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burden。 They said likewise that； when accused by Scroggie of
housebreaking； though nothing had to be broken to get in； only a
string with a peculiar knot； on the invention of which the cadger
prided himself； to be undone； all that Shargar had to say in his
self…defence was； that he had a terrible sair wame； and that the
horse was warmer nor the stanes i' the yard； and he had dune him nae
ill； nae even drawn a hair frae his tailwhich would have been a
difficult feat； seeing the horse's tail was as bare as his hoof。
CHAPTER VII。
ROBERT TO THE RESCUE！
That Shargar was a parish scholarwhich means that the parish paid
his fees； although； indeed； they were hardly worth payingmade very
little difference to his position amongst his school…fellows。 Nor
did the fact of his being ragged and dirty affect his social
reception to his discomfort。 But the accumulated facts of the
oddity of his personal appearance； his supposed imbecility； and the
bad character borne by his mother； placed him in a very unenviable
relation to the tyrannical and vulgar…minded amongst them。
Concerning his person； he was long； and； as his name implied； lean；
with pale…red hair； reddish eyes； no visible eyebrows or eyelashes；
and very pale facein fact； he was half…way to an Albino。 His arms
and legs seemed of equal length； both exceedingly long。 The
handsomeness of his mother appeared only in his nose and mouth；
which were regular and good； though expressionless； and the birth of
his father only in his small delicate hands and feet； of which any
girl who cared only for smallness； and heeded neither character nor
strength； might have been proud。 His feet； however； were supposed
to be enormous； from the difficulty with which he dragged after him
the huge shoes in which in winter they were generally encased。
The imbecility； like the large feet； was only imputed。 He certainly
was not brilliant； but neither did he make a fool of himself in any
of the few branches of learning of which the parish…scholar came in
for a share。 That which gained him the imputation was the fact that
his nature was without a particle of the aggressive； and all its
defensive of as purely negative a character as was possible。 Had he
been a dog； he would never have thought of doing anything for his
own protection beyond turning up his four legs in silent appeal to
the mercy of the heavens。 He was an absolute sepulchre in the
swallowing of oppression and ill…usage。 It vanished in him。 There
was no echo of complaint； no murmur of resentment from the hollows
of that soul。 The blows that fell upon him resounded not； and no
one but God remembered them。
His mother made her living as she herself best knew； with occasional
well…begrudged assistance from the parish。 Her chief resource was
no doubt begging from house to house for the handful of oatmeal
which was the recognized； and； in the court of custom…taught
conscience； the legalized dole upon which every beggar had a claim；
and if she picked up at the same time a chicken； or a boy's rabbit；
or any other stray luxury； she was only following the general rule
of society； that your first duty is to take care of yourself。 She
was generally regarded as a gipsy； but I doubt if she had any gipsy
blood in her veins。 She was simply a tramper； with occasional fits
of localization。 Her worst fault was the way she treated her son；
whom she starved apparently that she might continue able to beat
him。
The particular occasion which led to the recognition of the growing
relation between Robert and Shargar was the following。 Upon a
certain Saturdaysome sidereal power inimical to boys must have
been in the ascendanta Saturday of brilliant but intermittent
sunshine； the white clouds seen from the school windows indicating
by their rapid transit across those fields of vision that fresh
breezes friendly to kites； or draigons； as they were called at
Rothieden； were frolicking in the upper regionsnearly a dozen boys
were kept in for not being able to pay down from memory the usual
instalment of Shorter Catechism always due at the close of the week。
Amongst these boys were Robert and Shargar。 Sky…revealing windows
and locked door were too painful； and in proportion as the feeling
of having nothing to do increased； the more uneasy did the active
element in the boys become； and the more ready to break out into
some abnormal manifestation。 Everythingsun； wind； cloudswas
busy out of doors； and calling to them to come and join the fun； and
activity at the same moment excited and restrained naturally turns
to mischief。 Most of them had already learned the obnoxious
taskone quarter of an hour was enough for thatand now what
should they do next？ The eyes of three or four of the eldest of
them fell simultaneously upon Shargar。
Robert was sitting plunged in one of his day…dreams； for he； too；
had learned his catechism； when he was roused from his reverie by a
question from a pale…faced little boy； who looked up to him as a
great authority。
'What for 's 't ca'd the Shorter Carritchis； Bob？'
''Cause it's no fully sae lang's the Bible；' answered Robert；
without giving the question the consideration due to it； and was
proceeding to turn the matter over in his mind； when the mental
process was arrested by a shout of laughter。 The other boys had
tied Shargar's feet to the desk at which he satlikewise his hands；
at full stretch； then； having attached about a dozen strings to as
many elf…locks of his pale…red hair； which was never cut or trimmed；
had tied them to various pegs in the wall behind him； so that the
poor fellow could not stir。 They were now crushing up pieces of
waste…paper； not a few leaves of stray school…books being regarded
in that light； into bullets； dipping them in ink and aiming then at
Shargar's face。
For some time Shargar did not utter a word； and Robert； although
somewhat indignant at the treatment he was receiving； felt as yet no
impulse to interfere； for success was doubtful。 But； indeed； he was
not very easily roused to action of any kind； for he was as yet
mostly in the larva…condition of character； when everything is
transacted inside。 But the fun grew more furious； and spot after
spot of ink gloomed upon Shargar's white face。 Still Robert took no
notice； for they did not seem to be hurting him much。 But when he
saw the tears stealing down his patient cheeks； making channels
through the ink which now nearly covered them； he could bear it no
longer。 He took out his knife； and under pretence of joining in the
sport； drew near to Shargar； and with rapid hand cut the cordsall
but those that bound his feet； which were less easy to reach without
exposing himself defenceless。
The boys of course turned upon Robert。 But ere they came to more
than abusive words a diversion took place。
Mrs。 Innes； the school…master's wifea stout； kind…hearted woman；
the fine conditio