The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1905-08-25
Jack
HArkAwAy's
Schooldays
CHAPTER xxx.
By BRAcEsRIDcE HEMYNc

Herr Schmellfungus came to Lille
Bridge to lecture on chemistry. Mr..
Crawcour. wishing to encourage the
scientific taste OF his boys. gave them
permission to go to the lecture. Ac-
cordingly they were marshaled under
the care Of Mr.. Mole and went to the
town. being much pleased with the ex-
periments.
Jack. like most lads Of his age. after
having witnessed novelty. was full
of 1t. He thought of chemistry and
talked about nothing else. Procuring
some materials. he announced to a cir
Gle Of privileged and delighted friends
that he would give them a private lee
ture, illustrated with startling expert
ments. There being a vacant study by
the removal of Stanbridge, who after
matriculating at Cambridge had left
the school to go to college, 1t was, given
to Jack. We have said that the studies
of the upper boys We're a long line of
brick built rooms ranging along,one side
of the schoolyard and having ME-. Craw-
cour's house at one end and the. school
room at the other extremity. Jacks
study was the last one I'm the row and
1t up neatly with chairs. table. carpet
and bookcases.
The upper boys were allowed to pre-
pare their lessons in their studies and
frequently sat In one another's room in
the evening, SO that Jack easily got up
an audience to hear his lecture. Collin
son, Harvey and half q dozen others
were ranged on chairs near the door.
Jack stood behind a table near the win
dow. On the table were ranged sundry
walls and saucers containing various
ly colored liquids and powders.
Gentlemen" began Jack, II will pre-
sumo that you are aware that chemis-
try is the science which teaches the ma
ture and constitution of bodies and the
mariner of their action on each other
Observe this solution. 1t is colorless,
yet iron Is present in it. See, add lit
tie mixture Of gals. and 1t turns black.
Chemical affinity is more strongly
shown between some substances than
others. Take sulphuric acid. You OBJ
serve that 1t combines with barytes In
preference to potash, but, again. it pre-
fers potash to soda. Now, by latent
heat l am about to produce gases or
vapors. Observe this quicklime. pour
water on It. and it becomes hot enough
to light this bit Of phosphorus"
BY some chance or other the phos-
phorus burned to Jacks finger, and
with howl he let 1t fall into some
!yccpca:uni. which caught hare. This This
ignited some saltr .fs- cSa-.o.i -
sulphur. which blSw blSw nm blacsening his his
s40 upsetting a Jar Of gas. The
gas exploded with n loud bang. knock
Ing Jack backward and shattering some
panes Of glass. The spectators rushed
to the door and got into the yard with
out being hurt and Jack, throwing
open the window, made his escape
that way, half choked with q COM
pound Of villainous smells.
Meanwhile the tablecloth had caught
Are. which extended to the curtains
the maptelpiece and the woodwork OF
the window, and In an incredibly short
space the study was on fire. The wind
was blowing strongly at the time, and
dense clouds of smoke arose, mingled
with tongues Of fire,
At the sound of the explosion Mr..
Mole rushed out of the schoolroom
and met Harvey. breathless with ex-
citement and frightened out OF his
wits.
whats the matter?" asked the SEN
ior master.
"Harkaway's blown us up, SIR
Look" replied Harvey. pointing to the
smoke and flames issuing from the
study.
Rushing to the bellrope, Mr. Mole
pulled 1t violently. shouting Fire, fire.
fire." as II he were mad.
The schoolyard was soon full Of
men, women and boys, the women
screaming and the boys shouting. Mr..
Crawcour and his assistant masters
lost their heads and did not know
what to do.
':Run for the engines" said Mr.. Craw-
cour.
Nobody stirred.
Pump on It," suggested Mr.. Mole.
Jack had climbed up into q tree to
enjoy the sight without interruption.
Suddenly Mrs. Crawcour made her
appearance in the crowd and walked to
where the masters were standing panic
stricken.
why do you not do somethlng?" she
exclaimed. Get buckets and form
chain, so that you can throw the water
on the burning building. Do you not
see that IL the confiagration is not
checked 1t will soon extend to the
school and the whole building will be
enveloped in flamesT'
Excellent. my dear. Mole, Pumple-
ton. Stonor, my dear, good fellows. run
TO the stable for buckets" said Mr.
Crawcour. with tears in his eyes. 81
will place the boys In two chains to
pass the buckets backward and for
ward, and do the pumping myself. For
heavens sake, bestir yourself! Save
me! Save my SCHOOL,"
Buckets were procured, double chain
was formed and the principal pumped
away with will, while Mr.. Mole was
made chief fireman and, standing on
pair of steps, soon began TO make an
impression on the fire.
Jack walked into the crowd and
found out Harvey, who was as black as
a sweep through helping Mr.. Mole and
had fallen out of service for time
owing to fatigue.
Gnu DJnty