One day he scolded worse than usual, and soon after an Irishman said, in an aside: "Schure mum, an' ye mustn't be afther blamin' de rist av us fur that fellow's impidence.

"'Because I'm a helpless ninny, mum.'

"'Because I'm a helpless ninny, mum.'

One or two of the Crows put up a good fight, and managed to squirm away from the gagging boxing-gloves and let out a yelp; but the heavy door of the gymnasium kept the secret mum, and there was something so surprising about the ambuscade in the dark that the Dozen soon had the half-dozen securely gagged and fettered.