You must have got a very bad lot of boys, Mr.
Hathorn ?" "Not so many as that," the schoolmaster said, flushing.
"I shall be prepared to prove to your worships," the lawyer said, "that for the last six months the average of boys severely caned by this man has exceeded sixteen a day, putting aside such minor matters as one, two, or three vicious cuts with the cane given at random.

It fortunately happened, as I find from my young friend in the dock, that one of the boys has, from motives of curiosity, kept an account for the last six months of the number of boys thrashed every day.

I have sent round for him, and he is at present in court." Mr.Hathorn turned pale, and he began to think that it would have been wiser for him to have followed Ned's advice, and not to have brought the matter into court.
"Your worships," the lawyer said, "you have been boys, as I have, and you can form your own ideas as to the wretchedness that must prevail among a body of lads of whom more than half are caned daily.

This, your worships, is a state of tyranny which might well drive any boys to desperation.

But I have not done with Mr.Hathorn yet.
"During the ten days previous to this affair things wore even more unpleasant than usual in your establishment, were they not, sir?
I understand that the whole of the boys were deprived of all play whatever, and that every minute was occupied by extra tasks, and moreover the prospect was held out to them that this sort of thing would continue for months." There had already been several demonstrations of feeling in court, but at this statement by the lawyer there was a general hiss.