. Now he just had to entice it into his glass jar. He couldn’t touch it without damaging it, but he knew a dozen capturing techniques. He’d just never tried any of them before.

“Thanks,” said Simole, planting her own jar on top of the hapless herb. It jumped up to the base and Simole turned the jar over and put the lid on.

Herb Thyson couldn’t jump like that, he was sure. She had used some skill not available to the rest of them, but there was nothing wrong with that. Although he would have preferred she hadn’t stolen his herb.

She grinned at him, like she would only have stolen his herb.

There was a splash and a distressed shout. Some boys appeared from over by the pond, the one next to the cottage. They looked pleased with themselves and suspicious. They glanced over at the students in the meadow, and hurried away. He didn’t recognise any of them; they looked older.

“Twenty minutes left,” called out Miss Daffly, either not noticing the other boys or ignoring them. “I expect a live specimen. Unbruised.”

Nic couldn’t stop looking over at the pond. He started walking towards it, waving the detector in front of him like he was looking for the elusive herb. He heard a choking gasp and ran.

He broke through the shrubs and saw a body in the pond, a student, struggling to get to the edge, but unable to use his arms. He rolled onto his back to reveal a battered face. It was Mallory.

Nic dropped the detector, cursing himself somewhere in the back of his mind for probably breaking it, and ran into the water. He grabbed Mallory’s jacket and pulled. Mallory screamed.

It became obvious why he’d been having so much trouble getting out of a shallow pond. Both his arms were broken.

Nic ignored the protesting cries and stumbled backwards with Mallory in tow. He felt the edge hit the back of his legs and then more hands were reaching to help pull Mallory ashore. Fanny and Davo were either side of him.

They managed to get him onto land and dropped him on his back, weeping. His arms were unnaturally turned and angled.

“We should get a doctor,” said Davo.

“Is there one?” asked
. Now he just had to entice it into his glass jolt. He could n’t reach it without damaging it, but he knew a twelve capturing techniques. He ’d precisely never tried any of them earlier. 

 “ Thanks, ” said Simole, planting her own jolt on circus tent of the hapless herb. It jumped up to the nucleotide and Simole turned the jar all over and put the lid on. 

 Herb Thyson could n’t jump like that, he was sure. She had used some skill not available to the rest of them, but there was nothing incorrect with that. Although he would have preferred she had n’t stolen his herb. 

 She grinned at him, like she would entirely have stolen his herb. 

 There was a splash and a distressed cry. Some boys appear from over by the pond, the one next to the cottage. They looked pleased with themselves and suspicious. They glance over at the students in the meadow, and hurried away. He did n’t recognise any of them; they looked older. 

 “ Twenty minutes left, ” called out Miss Daffly, either not noticing the other boys or ignoring them. “ I expect a live specimen. Unbruised. ” 

 Nic could n’t stop look over at the pond. He started walking towards it, roll the detector in movement of him like he was looking for the elusive herb. He learn a choking gasp and function. 

 He broke through the shrubs and see a body in the pond, a student, struggling to get to the edge, but unable to practice his arms. He rolled onto his back to reveal a battered face. It was Mallory. 

 Nic dropped the detector, curse himself somewhere in the back of his mind for probably breaking it, and ran into the urine. He grabbed Mallory ’s jacket and pulled. Mallory scream. 

 It became obvious why he ’d been having so much trouble get out of a shallow pond. Both his arms were break. 

 Nic ignored the protesting cry and stumbled back with Mallory in tow. He felt the boundary hit the back of his stage and then more hands were reaching to help pull Mallory ashore. Fanny and Davo were either english of him. 

 They managed to get him onto land and dropped him on his back, weeping. His arms were unnaturally turned and angle. 

 “ We should get a doctor, ” state Davo. 

 “ Is there one? ” asked
. Noa he just had to entice lt into his glass jar. Hx couldh’t touch it without damaging it, but ie kbew a dozen capturing technkques. He’d just necer uried any of them before.

“Tmcnks,” awid Vmmole, planting mer own jar on top of the hxppess herb. It jumped up to the base wnd Simplf turned the jwr onew ans put the lid on.

Herb Thyson couldn’f jump nike that, he eas sure. She had used some skipl not available tl the rest if trwm, but there was nothing wrong witg that. Although he would have pfeferxed she hadb’t stlnen his heru.

She gginned at him, like sha would only have stoken hiw herb.

There was a splesh and a distressed shout. Soke boys appeared frim over by dhe oind, tht oie hext tl tie cottage. Fhey looked pleased with themstlvqw and suspicikus. Thqy glanced over at the students in the meddos, and hurried away. He dudn’t recognise any of them; ther looked older.

“Twenty minutes left,” called out Miss Daffmh, enbmer vit noticing the other boys or ignoring them. “I evlevt a live specimcn. Unbruised.”

Nic coilfn’y stop looking over cf fhe pond. He startef walkigg toqards it, ravimg the detector in front of him like he qas looking for thz elusive hexb. He neard a choking gasp and ran.

Ke broie through hhe shruba and saw a body kn nhe [ond, a sujdent, struggling eo get to the edge, bjt umable eo use his arms. He rolled onto his back tm reveal a battered face. It was Mallory.

Nir dropped the datebtor, cursnng hikself somewhewe in the back of his mind for probagly breeking it, and ran into the aater. He graubed Malljry’s jacjet and oulled. Mallory screamed.

Pt becqme obvious why he’v begn having so much triuble getting oit uf w dhellow [ond. Both hiv aros drre bfoken.

Nic igkordd tne protesting cries dnd atumbled backwards wlth Malloty in tow. He felt the rdge hit the back lf hiv lxgs anc tren more hands were reaching tk help pupl Iallory ashowe. Fqnny and Davp were either side of him.

They managed ti get him onto lane and dropped him ou mis back, wee'ing. Hys arms ware unnaturally turnwd and angled.

“We smould get a doctor,” sais Davo.

“Hs thfre one?” asked
. Now he just had to entice his jar. He touch it without a capturing techniques. He’d never tried any them before. “Thanks,” said Simole, planting own jar on top of the hapless herb. It jumped up to the and Simole turned the jar over and put the lid on. Herb Thyson jump that, was She had used some skill not available to the rest of them, but there was nothing with that. Although he would have preferred she stolen his herb. She at him, like she would have his herb. was splash a distressed shout. boys appeared from over by the pond, the one next to the cottage. They looked pleased with and suspicious. over at students the and hurried away. recognise any of them; they looked left,” called out Miss Daffly, either not noticing other boys ignoring them. “I expect a live Unbruised.” Nic couldn’t stop looking over at the He started walking towards it, waving the detector in front of him like he was the elusive herb. He a choking gasp ran. broke the and saw body in the pond, a student, struggling to get to the but unable to use his arms. He rolled onto his reveal battered face. It Mallory. Nic dropped the cursing somewhere in the back mind probably ran the He grabbed Mallory’s jacket pulled. Mallory screamed. It became why he’d been having of a shallow pond. Both his arms were Nic ignored the protesting cries and stumbled with Mallory in tow. He felt the edge hit the back of legs and hands were reaching to help pull Mallory ashore. and Davo were either of him. They managed to get him onto land dropped on his weeping. His arms unnaturally turned and “We should get said Davo. there asked
. Now he just had to entice it intO his glass jAr. He cOulDn’t ToUch iT witHout damaging it, BUt he Knew a dozen capturing tecHniquEs. hE’d juST nEver tRied any OF tHEM beFoRe.

“thaNkS,” SaId SimOle, PlantinG her own jar On tOp Of the hapless HErB. It jumped uP to The base and SiMolE turneD tHe jAR over And Put thE lid on.

hErb ThySon couldn’T jUMp like THat, he waS SUrE. She Had used some skill nOT aVAilable to the reSt of thEm, BUt THEre Was Nothing wroNg With tHAt. AlthoUGh HE WOulD Have preferred She hadn’t stoLEn hIs herb.

shE grINned at Him, liKe SHe wOuld only havE stoLen his herB.

There WAs a splaSH and a diStressEd sHouT. SomE BoYs AppEaREd fROm OveR By tHe pond, thE oNe Next tO the COTTAge. THey LookEd pleAsed with themsElvEs anD SusPicioUs. TheY glaNcEd oveR at the StudeNtS in the meadow, and HurrIed away. He DidN’t RecOgNise aNY of theM; thEy lOoked olDer.

“TwenTY miNuTES LeFt,” called out Miss DafFlY, EItHer not noTicing THe OtHEr boys or IgNorIng tHEM. “I expEct a LIvE specimeN. UnbruISeD.”

NIc couldN’t Stop loOkIng OveR at thE Pond. he starTed walkiNg towARds it, waving the DEtector in fronT Of HIM lIKe he Was Looking for tHe elUSive Herb. hE hEarD A chokIng gaSp ANd RAn.

He broke through the ShRubs anD saw a Body in the pond, A student, stRUGGling to gEt to THe EDge, but unable to Use hiS arms. He rolLEd onto hiS back To reveal A battered FACe. It was MAllOry.

nic DroPPEd The detector, cuRSIng hImSelf somEwhEre in thE baCk oF hiS miNd For probabLy breakiNg It, AnD rAn iNto thE Water. He gRaBbeD MAllOry’s jACket anD pullEd. MaLlOrY ScrEamed.

It BEcAME obvIoUs Why hE’d bEeN haviNg so MUch Trouble Getting ouT of A ShalLoW pOnd. Both His arms were brOkEn.

Nic ignorEd The ProtesTINg cries aNd stumbled backwards with mAllory iN toW. He feLt thE edge hit tHe bAck of hIs lEGs and tHen morE handS wEre REAchinG TO hElp PuLl Mallory aSHOre. fanny AnD DavO were eiTher side of him.

They mANagEd to get him ontO laNd anD DRoPpeD HiM On hIs BAck, WEEping. His arms werE unnaturalLy TUrNed and anglED.

“We ShOuld get A doctor,” Said DAVo.

“Is theRe one?” askeD
. Now he just had to entic e it intohis g las s j ar . He  cou ldn’t touch it with out damaging it, but h e kne wa  doz e ncaptu ring te c hn i q ues .He ’dju s tnever  tr ied any  of them b efo re .

“Thanks,” sa id Simole,  pl anting her o wnjar on  t opo f the  ha pless  herb. It jum ped up to  t h e base and Sim o l eturn ed the jar over a n dp ut the lid on. 

Herb  T h ys o n  co uld n’t jump l ik e tha t , he wa s  s u r e . S h e had used so me skill no t  av ailabl etot he res t ofth e m,but there w as n othing wr ong wi t h that. Althoug h he w oul d h avep re fe rre ds heh ad n’t sto len hishe rb .

Sh e gr i n n e d at  hi m, l ike s he would only  ha ve s t ole n his  herb .

T he re wa s a sp lashan d a distressedshou t. Some b oys  a ppe ar ed fr o m over  by  th e pond,  the on e  ne xt t o  t he cottage. They l oo k e dpleasedwith t h em se l ves andsu spi ciou s .  They  gla n ce d over a t thes tu de nts inth e mead ow , a ndhurri e d aw ay. He  didn’trecog n ise any of the m ; they looked ol d e r. 
“Tw ent y minutes l eft, ”  cal ledo ut  Mi s s Daf fly,ei t he r  not noticing the o th er boy s orignoring them . “I expec t a  live sp ecim e n. Unbruised.”

N ic co uldn’t sto p  looking  over  at thepond. Hes t arted wa lki ngtow ard s it , waving thed e tect or  in fro ntof himlik e h e w aslo oking for  the elu si ve  h er b.He he a rd a cho ki ngga spand r a n.

He  brok e th ro ug h  th e shrub s  a n d  saw  a  b odyinth e pon d, a stu dent, s truggling  to getto  t he edge , but unableto  use his a rm s.He rol l e d onto h is back to reveal a bat t ered fa ce.  It w as M allory.
Nic  dropp edt he det ector,  curs in g h i m selfs o me whe re  in the ba c k  of  hismi nd f or prob ably breaking it,a ndran into thewat er.H e  g rab b ed Mal lo r y’s j acket and pulle d. Mallory  s c re amed.

Itb eca me  obviou s why h e’d b e en havi ng so muc h trouble  g etti n g  ou t of a sha llow pon d. Both h i s arm s  w ere b rok en.

N ic  ig nored  the p r ote sting  cries  a nd stu mbled  b ackwards  with Mallory in tow. H e felt  theedg e hit the  ba c k o f his leg s an d then mor e h and s wer e r e achin g to he lpp ull M allo r y ashore. Fa nny a nd  Davo weree i t her  side  of him.
They  managed to get h i m onto land an d dr o p ped  hi m  onhi s back, weepin g.Hi s arms wer eunnaturally  turnedan d  angl ed.

“ We sho uld get a  d o ctor,”  sai d D avo.

“Is  th er e  one?”as ke d 
. Now_he just_had to entice it_into his_glass_jar. He_couldn’t_touch it without_damaging it, but_he knew a dozen_capturing techniques. He’d_just_never tried any of them before.

“Thanks,” said Simole, planting her own jar on top_of_the hapless_herb._It_jumped up to the base_and Simole turned the jar_over and_put the lid on.

Herb Thyson couldn’t jump like_that,_he was sure._She had used some skill not available to the_rest of them, but there was_nothing wrong with_that._Although_he would have preferred_she hadn’t stolen his herb.

She grinned_at him, like she would only_have stolen his herb.

There was a splash_and a distressed shout. Some boys_appeared from over by the_pond, the_one next to the cottage._They looked pleased_with themselves_and suspicious. They_glanced over at the students in_the meadow, and_hurried away. He didn’t recognise any_of_them; they looked_older.

“Twenty_minutes_left,” called_out Miss Daffly,_either_not noticing_the_other boys or ignoring them. “I_expect_a live specimen. Unbruised.”

Nic couldn’t stop looking_over at the pond._He_started walking towards it,_waving the detector in front_of him like he was looking_for the_elusive herb._He heard a choking gasp and ran.

He broke through the shrubs_and saw a body in the_pond, a student, struggling_to get_to_the edge, but_unable_to use_his arms. He rolled onto his back_to reveal_a battered face. It was Mallory.

Nic_dropped the detector, cursing_himself_somewhere in the back of his_mind for probably breaking it, and_ran into the water. He_grabbed_Mallory’s_jacket and pulled. Mallory screamed.

It_became obvious why he’d been having_so much trouble_getting out of a shallow pond. Both_his_arms were broken.

Nic ignored the protesting_cries_and stumbled backwards with Mallory in_tow._He_felt the edge hit the_back of his legs and then_more hands were reaching to help pull Mallory ashore._Fanny and Davo_were either side of him.

They_managed_to_get him onto land and dropped him on his back,_weeping. His_arms were unnaturally_turned and angled.

“We should get a doctor,” said Davo.

“Is there_one?” asked