Along by the big quarry he met his mates returning.

After talking the matter over they had come to the conclusion that the schoolmaster had got a hint of their intention, and had lain in wait.

They gathered about Dick, whose forehead was most picturesquely bedabbled with blood.
'Crikey! Dick,' cried the wondering Jacker, 'did he hammer you much ?' 'Feel,' said Dick, guiding one hand after another to a lump on his head that increased his height by quite an inch.
'Great Gosh!' murmured Peterson; 'ain't he a one-er?
The beggar must 'a' tried to murder you.' Dick nodded.
'Yes,' he said; 'but 'twasn't Hamlet.' 'Go on!' The boys looked back apprehensively.
'No, 'twasn't.

'Twas a big feller.

I dunno who; but he must 'a' bin a bushranger, 'r a feller what's escaped from gaol, 'r someone.