Athletics, indeed, were my strong point, for I may say, almost without egotism, that I had so cultivated my muscles to the sad neglect of my proper studies, that I could swim like a fish, dive like an Indian pearl hunter, run swifter than anybody else, and play cricket and football with the best; but, as far as my real school duties were concerned, I'm afraid I was a sad dunce, as I was always at the bottom of my class.
I am now approaching the period to which these reminiscences of my school-days have all along tended, albeit I have been a long time in reaching it.
You may remember my calling your attention to the fact of the Doctor always marching us to church on Sundays, and heading the procession, wearing a most peculiar-looking hat the while?
Well, "thereby hangs a tale," as a wise jester says in one of Shakespeare's plays.
I had just completed my two years' residence under the academical roof; the summer vacation had come and gone; the boys were all back again at school, and settled down for the winter term; the month of October had flown by with unlagging footsteps; and November had come in, gloomy and dismal, with white fogs and sea mists--such as haunt some parts of the southern coasts in the autumn.
The "Fifth" was a great anniversary at the establishment.
If Guy Fawkes' Day were uncared for elsewhere, we at all events held the memory of the defunct conspirator in high reverence; and invariably did it such honour by the explosion of gunpowder, in the shape of squibs and crackers as our means afforded.
The pocket-money of those having friends with long purses was saved up for weeks beforehand for this purpose; while any boys without a regular allowance had to "beg or borrow," so that they might contribute to the general fund.
The couple of odd shillings Uncle George had slipped into my hand on leaving London, had, of course, melted away long ago, and, until this year, he never seemed to think of renewing the tip, supposing, perhaps, that I did not want anything, for I was too proud to ask him; but at Michaelmas, when my birthday came round--I was just fourteen then--he quite unexpectedly sent me a post-office order for half-a-sovereign in the possession of which I felt as rich as Croesus.
Tom, naturally, was told of the arrival of this enormous treasure instantly.

Indeed, he accompanied me on the next half-holiday, when we were allowed out, to get the order cashed; but beyond expending about eighteenpence in hot three-corner jam tarts and ginger beer, at a favourite confectioner's patronised by the school, we devoted the sum to purchasing the best fireworks we could get for the money, carrying our explosives back to the school carefully concealed on our persons, and secreting them in our lockers.
"We'll have such a lark!" said Tom.
"Won't it be jolly!" I chimed in, with equal enthusiasm--adding, however, a moment afterwards, as the reflection occurred to me, "What a pity, though, Tom, that the Fifth falls this year on a Sunday?
I declare, I never thought of it before!" "Nor I," said he, and both our faces fell six inches at least.
But, Tom's soon brightened up again, as some happy thought flashed across his mind.
"Why, it'll be all the better, Martin," he cried out, greatly to my surprise.
"How can that be ?" I exclaimed, indignantly.

"The Doctor will never allow us to have our bonfire, I'm sure!" "Hush, you stupid," said Tom.

"I do declare your brains must be wool- gathering! Stop a minute and listen to me." He then whispered to me a plan he had thought of for signalising "the glorious Fifth," in spite of Dr Hellyer, and in a manner which that worthy would never dream of.

It was a scheme quite worthy of Tom's fertile imagination.
"Oh, won't it be a lark!" I cried, when he had finished; and we both then burst into an ecstasy of laughter at the very idea of the thing..