WHEN the minister drove up to the church on Sunday afternoon, he found his congregation, as usual, divided into groups near the door of the edifice. They were discussing, with more than their customary animation, the flogging incident, and canvassing the situation.

Naturally, opinion was divided, but the majority seemed to think that Simon, against whom the current had been setting for some time, deserved the punishment he received. Most of the scholars sympathised with Colin, and they had exerted quite an influence upon their parents. Then there was that inevitable rush of opinion in the direction in which the current suddenly commenced to flow strongly. Among the groups about the church door which discussed the event that Sunday afternoon, there were heard a great many instances of the master’s cruelty, and other rumours calculated to discredit him.

"It sarves him d—d well right!" exclaimed Jock, the drover, in loud tones, which were overheard by the minister, who, unseen by the particular group in which Jock was the most important figure, had just walked up the path.

"Ye’ll no’ get yer token, Jock," said Muckle Peter, with a twinkle in his eye. "Although Ah maun confess thet if Ah hed been in Coalin’s place Ah’d ‘a’ knockit his d—d heed aff!"

"Hush, hush, Peter!" said Nathan Larkins. "Yer always so profane that I feel uneasy sittin’ in the same church with you."

"Weel, weel," responded Muckle Peter, "if ye canna find comfort wi’ th’ people o’ Goad wha worship in this kirk, then ye maun jist pit up a kirk yersel’ an’ worship under yer ane vine an’ fig tree, es ye luv tad tell us aboot in yer lang prayers."

The sally at Nathan’s long prayers shut the old man up pretty effectively, and he moved off to another group, in the hope of finding more receptive soil for the views he entertained. He was anxious to have his neighbours agree with him that the flogging was an evidence of Colin’s depravity, and on every occasion when he put forth that view he would wind up with the expression: —"Well, well, what else could be expected from a boy who would defy his own schoolmaster, — a boy that comes from nobody knows where, with a man like Wasby, and has no kin but a stranger who says he is his uncle? Bad will come of him, mark my words! He’ll come to no good end!"

But Nathan found few sympathisers, and the few that he did find at first, soon melted away. It was not regarded as singular that Simon did not turn up at church that day. Indeed, scarcely anybody, including those who did not suspect he bore evidence of the flogging, expected he would. The trustees had looked for a visit from the master on Saturday, but as he did not put in an appearance, they supposed that he had delayed till Sunday. Sunday however passed, and still Simon did not appear.

Needless to say, there was a large attendance at school on Monday morning, as every scholar was keyed to the highest pitch of curiosity by hearing the comments at home. Half-past eight, the hour at which Simon always arrived, came at length, but the master was not on hand; a quarter to nine, and still no Simon; nine o’clock struck, and the master was not there.

Then the scholars formed themselves into groups, and eagerly discussed the situation. They waited around till half-past nine, and as they saw Dooley, the blacksmith, coming down the Concession, they hailed him and let him know the situation.

As Dooley was not a trustee, and was never known to take any responsibility except in case of a sick horse, he counselled the children to move cautiously, lest some complications which might involve the settlement in difficulties, should ensue. Finally, he told them to remain where they were, while he went and notified the trustees. In half an hour these dignitaries were all on hand, and were soon in solemn conclave in the schoolhouse.

"Here, Jamie McMannus," said Muckle Peter, emerging from the schoolhouse, "you rin tae th’ Tenth (the Tenth Concession) tae th’ maister’s boardin’-hoose, an’ see what’s cam o’ th’ maun. Dinna ye lat th’ grass grow unner yer feet, me maun," added Muckle Peter, as he hurried Jamie away.

While Jamie was off on his errand, the trustees discussed the situation; and the scholars, much too excited to play ball, or any other game, continued in groups about the playground, talking over the case, and wondering how it was all going to end.

Jamie returned in about three-quarters of an hour, bringing the news that the master was nowhere to be found. He had returned to the house where he was boarding on Friday evening, and that night had gone out quietly, without saying a word to any one.

Mrs. Pepper (for it was at Pepper’s the master then boarded), thinking Simon had only gone off somewhere for the night, paid little attention to his absence. When he did not return the following day, knowing what had happened at the spelling-match, Mrs. Pepper "pit twa an’ twa taegether," to use her own words, and investigated the master’s room.

She found that he had gathered up the most valuable of his little belongings and had taken them with him. But she was only quite sure of Simon’s intention when she "cam’ tae mak’ doon th’ spare bed" for a stray book pedlar who had dropped in upon her for a night’s lodging. When she lifted the bolster she found a note from Simon, which read thus : —

MRS. PEPPER: This will notify you that I am leaving the settlement, and you can tell the people that I have shaken the dust from my shoes and that they will never see me again. I hate the place, anyway. I hate that low-bred murderer’s son, and if I live long enough, I shall repay him for his conduct to me, curse him! I have not left any money to pay my board. The trustees owe me some, and you can get your pay from them. Tell any persons who may think of following me that they may just as well save themselves the trouble, for I am not going to be found, and they may just as well understand that first as well as last. Besides, I have no money but what little is in my pocket, and that would not do any one much good. I shall be far enough away by the time this note falls into your hands. I hate most of the people in the settlement, anyway, and especially do I hate the Ninth Concession school, and I am not sorry to leave it.

(Signed) SIMON SMALLPIECE.

This was the note that Jamie carried back from the "Tenth" with him and handed over to the trustees.

After debating its contents for some time, Muckle Peter called upon Nathan Larkins to "state his policy." Nathan, considerably embarrassed at being so unexpectedly called upon to declare himself and formulate a policy, said with trepidation : —"I opine that the best thing to do would be to send the children home, accept this letter as the master’s resignation, and try to get John Malcolm to look us up another master when he is at the front. I think also that it would be well, and in the interests of sound discipline, to institute an investigation into Colin’s conduct in this connection, for we would still have had our master if that young upstart had not flogged him; and if an example is not made of Colin, no other teacher may be found to risk himself amongst us."

"Ah agree wi’ Jock, the drover," broke in Muckle Peter, "thet it sarved th’ maister daum weel richt, an’ es Ah said at the kirk yestreen, uf Ah hed been in Coalin’s place, Ah’d ‘a’ knockit his daumed heed aff!"