Frederick Sadleir Brereton

A Gallant Grenadier Frederick Sadleir Brereton

Book Excerpt: ...which formed the playground of the school, and, putting his two forefingers in his mouth, produced a loud and prolonged whistle. Twice he repeated it, and after a minute's silence shouted "Rags! Rags! where are you?"In the distance a series of short barks answered, and very soon a fox-terrier dog came racing across the grass."Ah, he's waiting all right for his master!" exclaimed Phil, with a short grunt of satisfaction. "Good dog!--the best in the whole of Riddington. Now, you fellows," he went on, after having greeted his canine friend with a pat, "what's the order for to-day? We're all agreed to give that old concern an airing. The last time the good people of this town had a chance of looking at it was in the year of the queen's coronation; and that was thirteen years ago. It's getting musty, and must certainly have an airing.""That's exactly what we think, Phil," chimed in one of the other lads, a merry-looking youngster of fifteen. "Riddington started a state barge a hundred year...