Still Robert took no notice, for they did not seem to be hurting him much.

But when he saw the tears stealing down his patient cheeks, making channels through the ink which now nearly covered them, he could bear it no longer.

He took out his knife, and under pretence of joining in the sport, drew near to Shargar, and with rapid hand cut the cords--all but those that bound his feet, which were less easy to reach without exposing himself defenceless.
The boys of course turned upon Robert.

But ere they came to more than abusive words a diversion took place.
Mrs.Innes, the school-master's wife--a stout, kind-hearted woman, the fine condition of whose temperament was clearly the result of her physical prosperity--appeared at the door which led to the dwelling-house above, bearing in her hands a huge tureen of potato-soup, for her motherly heart could not longer endure the thought of dinnerless boys.

Her husband being engaged at a parish meeting, she had a chance of interfering with success.
But ere Nancy, the servant, could follow with the spoons and plates, Wattie Morrison had taken the tureen, and out of spite at Robert, had emptied its contents on the head of Shargar, who was still tied by the feet, with the words: 'Shargar, I anoint thee king over us, and here is thy crown,' giving the tureen, as he said so, a push on to his head, where it remained.
Shargar did not move, and for one moment could not speak, but the next he gave a shriek that made Robert think he was far worse scalded than turned out to be the case.