In this receptacle, Tom and I now carefully placed about a quarter of a pound of gunpowder with some squibs, the latter blackened over like the shining Wallsend knobs, so as to escape detection; and then, such was our fiendish plan, we concealed under the cushion of the Doctor's armchair a packet of crackers, connected with a long tiny thread of a fuse leading midway under the centre of the broad table, so that it could not be seen or interfered with by the boys' feet as they sat at dinner, along the floor to the end of the form where we usually sat, near the entrance to the apartment.
"I shall manage to light this fuse somehow or other," Tom said, assuming the control of this infernal machine; and then, after going into the hall to get our caps, giving another look round the room when we came back, to see whether our preparations were noticeable, we awaited Dr Hellyer's summons to proceed to church--with calm satisfaction at the so far successful issue of our calculations.
During our processional walk we were both in high glee at the grand "blowing up" that would happen on our return--a sort of "Roland for an Oliver" in return for the many different sorts of blowings up we had received at Dr Hellyer's hands at one time and another.

I was all the more excited, too, for I had made up my mind to attempt another exploit of which I had not even warned Tom, but which would probably throw his sublime conception into the shade.
I had, in my visits to the different coasting craft in the harbour, been presented by a fisherman with a lot of very small fish-hooks.

These I had in the morning attached by thin pieces of thread to several fire crackers, which I intended for my own personal satisfaction to present to the Doctor, although in a way he would not relish or dream of.
If there was one thing more than another that Dr Hellyer esteemed I think I have already sufficiently pointed out it was his dignity--to the glory of which the archdeacon's hat he always wore on Sundays eminently contributed; and, as may be believed, he venerated this head-covering accordingly.
It was against this hat I contemplated taking especial proceedings now.
Being held to be an outlaw to all ordinary discipline, the Doctor, to have me under his own eye, made me walk close behind him in the procession formed for our march to and from church.

Tom and some three or four other unruly members were also similarly distinguished; and, as walking two-and-two abreast we made such a long string, that the masters behind could not see what was going on in front, we usually had a good deal of fun in the rear of the Doctor, without, of course, his perceiving it, or the teachers betraying us.
Watching my chance, soon after we came out of church on this eventful occasion, I dexterously managed to fasten the fish-hooks with the crackers attached not only to different points of the master's garments, but also to his hat; and, the scrunching of our feet on the gravel pathway from the village deadening the sound I made in scratching the match I used, I contrived to light the crackers before any one, save the boys immediately alongside of me, perceived what I was doing.
Everything favoured me.
Presently, whiz--crack--and the Doctor's coat tails flew up as if by magic, swaying to and fro in the air, although there was no wind; and the fellows, smelling a "rat" as well as the burnt powder, began to titter.
"What is that ?" said the Doctor, sternly, turning round and confronting us with an even more majestic deportment than usual.
Of course, nobody answered; but, the crack, crack, cracking continued, and in another minute, with a bang, off went Dr Hellyer's hat! Nor was that all.

Putting up his hand, with a frantic clutch, to save his headgear from falling into the mire, it being a drizzling, mizzling, dirty November day, our worthy preceptor pulled away what we had always imagined to be a magnificent head of hair, but what turned out now, alas for human fallibility, only to be a wig! This was a discovery with a vengeance; and, as might have been expected, all the boys, as if with one accord, shouted with laughter.
Dr Hellyer was speechless with indignation.