CHAPTER I.

THE JOURNEY PROPOSED.

"The school--is--dismissed."

The words fell hesitatingly, and it seemed to us regretfully, from the tutor's lips.

The dismission was for the spring vacation. It was at the close of a mild March day; there was a peculiar warmth in the blue sky and cloudless sunset; the south winds lightly stirred the pines, and through the open window wandered into the school-room.

"Dismissed!"

Usually at this word, on the last day of the term, every boy leaped to his feet: there would be a brief bustle, then Master Lewis would be seen seated alone amid the silence of the school-room.

But to-day there was something in the tone of the master's voice that checked the usual unseemly haste. Every boy remained in his seat, as though waiting for Master Lewis to say something more.

The master saw it, and choked with feeling. It was a little thing, the seeming unwillingness to part; but it indicated to both teacher and school an increasing respect and affection.

Master Lewis had learned to love his pupils: his hesitating words told _them_ that. Every boy in his school loved Master Lewis: their conduct in remaining in their seats told _him_ that.

The master stepped from his desk, as was his custom when about to say any thing unusually social and confidential.

"Boys," he said, "I wish to tell you frankly, and you deserve to know it, that I have become so attached to you during the winter term that I am sorry to part from you, even for a week's vacation."

"I wish we might pass the vacation together," said Frank Gray,--meaning by "we" the teacher and the school.

"I once read of a French teacher," said Ernest Wynn, "who used to travel with his scholars in the neighboring countries, during vacations."

"Wouldn't it be just grand if we could travel with Master Lewis during our summer vacation!" said Tom Toby, who, although the dullest scholar in the school, always became unexpectedly bright over any plan that promised an easy time.

"We might visit some country in Europe," said Ernest. "We should then be learning geography and history, and so our education would go on."

"It would help us also in the study of modern languages," said Frank Gray.

Tom Toby's sudden brightness of face seemed to be eclipsed by these last remarks.

"I think we had better travel in places nearer home, then."

"Why?" asked Frank.

"I was seasick once: it was _orful_."

"The sickness is a short and healthy one," said Frank.

"You will find it a healthy one, if you ever are rolling on the Atlantic, with

'Twice a thousand miles behind you, and a thousand miles before.'

I wouldn't be sick in that way again for any thing. I tell you 'twas _orful_!"

Master Lewis laughed at Tom's pointed objection.

"As to learning the languages," continued Tom, "I've noticed all the Frenchmen and Germans I have tried to talk with speak their own language very poorly."

Tom's percentages in the modern languages were the lowest of his class, and Master Lewis could not restrain a smile.

"I once tried to make a Frenchman understand that I thought Napoleon Bonaparte was the greatest man that ever lived. He kept saying, _Cela va sans dire, cela va sans dire!_ [That is a matter of course.] I never knew what he meant, to say: all I could make of it was, _That goes without saying any thing_."

"The French teacher of whom I spoke," said Ernest Wynn, "used to allow his pupils to travel much on foot, and to visit such places as their love of history, geography, and natural science, made them most wish to see. So they journeyed in a zigzag way, and published a book called '_Voyages en zigzag_.'"

"I would not object to learning history, geography, and natural science in that way," said Tom Toby. "I should rather walk after history than study it the way I do now. I should prefer _riding_ after it to walking, however. I wouldn't be cheated out of having a real good time during my summer vacation for any thing."

A shadow fell on Master Lewis's face, as though his feelings were hurt by something implied in Tom's remarks. Tom saw it.

"But--but I should have a real good time if I were with you, Master Lewis, even if it were on the Atlantic, or studying French in France."

"I have often thought I would like to travel with my boys abroad. I could take my first class, if I could secure their parents' consent, the coming summer."

"Good!"

Every boy joined in the exclamation. Tom's voice, however, was a little behind the others,--"-o-d."

"Let me suggest to the class," said Master Lewis, "that each member speak to his parents about this matter during the present vacation; and let each boy who can go send me in a letter during the week a map of the country and the places he would most like to visit. He can draw it in ink or pencil, and he need only put down upon it the places he would most like to see."

"Good!"

The exclamation was unanimous.

The boys left their seats.

Tom Toby's face had become very animated again. Presently the boys of the class were all gathered about him.

"I have a plan," said Tom. "It is just grand. Let us form a secret society, and call ourselves the Zigzagers!"

"Good!" unanimously.

"But why a secret society?" asked Frank Gray.

"There is something so mysterious about a secret society," said Tom. "Gives one such a good opinion of himself. Have a constitution, and by-laws, and wear a pin!"

The first class in Master Lewis's school parted in high spirits, their faces bright with smiles as they went out into the light of the March sunset.

Tom's last words on parting were: "Try to think up a secret for the society: it should be something surprising."

The first class in Master Lewis's school numbered six boys:--

Frank Gray, Ernest Wynn, Wyllys Wynn, Thomas Toby, George Howe, and Leander Towle.

Frank Gray was the oldest boy and finest scholar in the school. He was about fifteen years of age; was tall and manly, and was more intimate with Master Lewis than with any of his schoolmates. Thomas Toby, who disliked Frank's precise manners and rather unsocial ways, used to call him "Lord _I_." Frank, however, was not intentionally reserved: he was merely studious in his leisure, and best liked the society of those from whom he could learn the most.

Ernest and Wyllys Wynn were brothers. Ernest had made himself popular at school by his generous, affectionate disposition, and his ready sympathy for any one in distress. He lived, as it were, a life outside of himself; and his interest in the best good of others made for himself unconsciously a pure and lovable character. He was fond of music, and an agreeable singer: he liked the old English and Scottish ballads, and so sung the songs of true feeling that every one is eager to hear.

He often went to an almshouse near Master Lewis's to sing to the old people there. The paupers all loved him, and clustered eagerly around him when he appeared. His songs recalled their childhood scenes in other lands. On fine summer evenings he might often be seen on the lawn before the charitable institution, with a crowd of poor people around him, whom he delighted with "Robin Ruff and Gaffer Green," "The Mistletoe Bough," "Highland Mary," "The Vale of Avoca," "Robin Adair," or something aptly selected to awaken tender feelings and associations.

Nearly all the children of the town seemed to know him, and regard him as a friend, and used often to run out to meet him when he appeared in the street. Master Lewis, in speaking of Ernest, once quoted Madame de Sévigné's remark, "The true mark of a good heart is its capacity for loving." It was meant to be a picture, and it was a true one.

Wyllys Wynn was much like his brother, and a very close friendship existed between them. He was fond of history and poetry; he wrote finely, and usually took the first prize for composition.

Tom Toby was quite a different character. He was just a _boy_, in the common sense of the word. In whatever he attempted to do, he was sure to blunder, and was as sure to turn the blunder to some comical account. He had a way of making fun of himself, and of inciting others to laugh at his own expense, which Master Lewis was disposed to censure as wanting in proper self-respect.

Tom had no particular friend. He seemed to like all boys alike, except those whom he thought insincere and affected, and such were the butt of his sharp wit and ready ridicule.

Tom was famous among the boys for telling stories, and these often related to his own mishaps. A knot of boys was often seen gathered around him to listen to his random talk, his wit, and his day dreams. Though a poor scholar, he was an apt talker, and almost any subject would furnish him a text.

His father was a Maine lumber-dealer, and he had spent much time with his father in the logging camps and backwoods towns of the Pine Tree State. His adventures in these regions, told in his droll way, often excited the wonder of his companions.

"Did you ever see a bear in the backwoods?" one of the boys asked him one day.

"I never saw a live one but once."

"What did you do?"

"Do? I received a polite bow from him, and then I remembered that I was wanted at home, and went home immediately.

"It was this way."--All of the boys of the class now gathered around Tommy, as was the custom when he seemed about to tell one of his odd stories.

"I attempted one day to rob a pigeon-woodpecker's nest which I had found in one of the old logging roads that had not been used for several years. The nest was in a big hollow tree. The top of the tree had blown off, leaving a trunk some twelve or fifteen feet high.

"These woodpeckers make a hole for their nest so large that you can run the whole length of your arm into it. I had long wanted a few eggs from one of these birds' nests. I had heard the lumber-men tell how white and handsome the eggs are.

"I was climbing up the tree very fast, my heart beating like a trip-hammer, when I heard a scratching sound inside the big trunk, and then a shaking at the top. I thought it very mysterious. I stopped, and looked up. I saw something black, like a fur cap. I opened my eyes and mouth so as to take a big look, and just then _out popped a bear's head_ from the top of the trunk, and looked over very inquiringly. I just looked once. He seemed to recognize me. He bowed. Then I remembered that father had said I must come home early. I dropped to the ground, and I never picked up my feet so lively before in my life. I _flew_. When I got safely out of the woods, I thought of the woodpecker. I never felt so glad for any bird in my life. What a narrow escape that bird had! _I had been there myself_, and knew. I wouldn't have robbed her nest for any thing after that.

"'No, not I.'"

When Tommy first came to the boarding-school, he greatly amused his companions one day by attempting to ride on the hose of a street-sprinkler's cart, when it was not in action. He had never seen such a carriage, and thought it offered a wonderfully convenient arrangement for riding behind. Presently the driver raised the lever, and the amazed lad found himself caught in the shower, and tumbled into the dirt.

"Why didn't you tell me the thing was bewitched?" said he, as the boys gathered around him.

But his indignation immediately subsided, and rubbing off the water and dirt, and discovering the use of the cart, he was soon found laughing as heartily as the others, and quite outdid them in relating to Master Lewis the odd adventure.

George Howe and Leander Towle were cousins and very intimate friends. They were unlike Frank Gray and the Wynns. They cared little for poetry, art, or music. They stood well in their classes in mathematics and the exact sciences, were fond of boating and out-of-door sports, and both were warm friends of Tom Toby.

The pleasant relations that existed between the teacher and the school also prevailed to a great degree among the lads themselves. Frank Gray and Tommy Toby, being quite unlike, sometimes had a tilt in words; but, as Frank was a gentleman by nature and training, and as Tommy had tender feelings, their differences were easily harmonized. The mild manners and good sense of Master Lewis seemed to impress themselves strongly on the characters of his pupils. Tommy Toby, who was often thoughtless in his conduct, was almost the only exception to the rule.