If it were powdered in any other way, the resin lost its efficacy as a protection, and might even aggravate the pain.

Several boys volunteered testimony in support of Dolf's claim, telling of the strange immunity they had enjoyed on various occasions after applying the resin, and Peter Queen distinctly remembered 'a feller up to Clunes' who, by a judicious use of the powder, was enabled to defy all authority and preserve an attitude of hilarious derision under the most awful tortures.
'This here cove he useter have hisself rubbed all over wif rosum every mornin', then he'd go to school an' kick up ole boots.

What'd he care?
My word, he was a terror!' Dolf took up the theme, and enlarged upon the virtues of resin, particularly that resin of his, which was the very best kind of resin for the purpose and had been specially commended by an old swaggie with one eye, who gave it to him for a four-bladed knife and a clay pipe.

So great was the effect of these representations that before Dick and Ted had transferred the powder to their pockets they had become objects of envy rather than commiseration, and one or two of their mates would gladly have changed places with them on the spot.
'Wouldn't care if I was in fer it, 'stead o' you, Dick,' said Peterson.
'Mus' be an awful lark to have Hamlet layin' it on, an' you not feelin' it all the time.' 'My oath I' said Jacker Mack feelingly.
'Good morning, boys.' Joel Ham, B.A., had stolen in amongst them, and stood there in an odd crow-like attitude, his mottled face screwed into an expression of quizzical amiability, and his daily bottle sticking obtrusively from the inside lining of his old coat.

The lads scattered sheepishly.
'Peterson,' he said, blinking his pale lashes a dozen times in rapid succession, 'the boy who thinks he can outwit his dear master is an egotist, and egotism, Peterson, is the thing which keeps us from profiting by the experiences of other fools.' 'I dunno what yer talkin' about,' answered Peter son, with heavy resentment.
Mr.Ham blinked again for nearly half a minute.
'Of course not,' he said, 'of course not, my boy.' Then he turned to Dick and Ted with quiet courtesy.