resin lost its efficacy as a protection, and might even aggravate the
pain. Several boys volunteered testimony in support of Dolf's claim,
telling of the strange immunity they had enjoyed on various occasions
after applying the resin, and Peter Queen distinctly remembered 'a feller
up to Clunes' who, by a judicious use of the powder, was enabled to defy
all authority and preserve an attitude of hilarious derision under the
most awful tortures.

'This here cove he useter have hisself rubbed all over wif rosum every
mornin', then he'd go to school an' kick up ole boots. What'd he care? My
word, he was a terror!'

Dolf took up the theme, and enlarged upon the virtues of resin,
particularly that resin of his, which was the very best kind of resin for
the purpose and had been specially commended by an old swaggie with one
eye, who gave it to him for a four-bladed knife and a clay pipe. So great
was the effect of these representations that before Dick and Ted had
transferred the powder to their pockets they had become objects of envy
rather than commiseration, and one or two of their mates would gladly
have changed places with them on the spot.

'Wouldn't care if I was in fer it, 'stead o' you, Dick,' said Peterson.
'Mus' be an awful lark to have Hamlet layin' it on, an' you not feelin'
it all the time.'

'My oath I' said Jacker Mack feelingly.

'Good morning, boys.'

Joel Ham, B.A., had stolen in amongst them, and stood there in an odd