Trickery and Cunning

Where it surfaces

• Bradshaw’s Little Story

  Bradshaw's entire scheme—from feigning ignorance to fabricating an elaborate lie about seeing the exam paper—exemplifies his delight in deception for its own sake.

• How Pillingshot Scored

  Pillingshot seizes the opportunity to volunteer as scorer to escape the exam, a clever maneuver that avoids direct confrontation.

• The Odd Trick

  Harrison uses deceptive tactics—first a string-and-tin prank, then biased umpiring—to settle scores, but his cunning backfires when he is caught wearing Graham's mackintosh.

• Harrison's Slight Error

  Harrison's elaborate plan to trick the new boy into dismantling Venables' study.

• A Shocking Affair

  Bradshaw's elaborate plan to avoid the Thucydides exam by locking himself in the Museum demonstrates clever deception.

• The Babe and the Dragon

  Charteris's journalistic scheming and the Babe's strategic choice of house to avoid Dacre's company show subtle cunning.

• The Manoeuvres of Charteris

  Charteris's maneuvers and Bradshaw's schemes exemplify the use of cleverness to navigate school life.

• IV

  Charteris uses cleverness to evade detection, such as hiding his running gear and bluffing the Bargees' secretary about having permission.

• V

  Charteris uses quick thinking and physical skill to outwit and defeat the hooligans.

• Author!

  Babington's attempts to deceive Mr. Seymour about his identity and school demonstrate trickery and cunning.

• The Tabby Terror

  The cat's clever thefts and the students' schemes to stop it, including Trentham's plan to have his sister adopt the cat, highlight themes of cunning and deception.

• The Prize Poem

  The boys use deception and coincidence to submit the same poem, attempting to outwit the system.

• A Corner in Lines

  Dunstable's elaborate schemes to outwit masters, including leaving early and stockpiling lines.

• The Autograph Hunters

  Dunstable employs multiple deceptive strategies—fake letters, false identities, and deliberate trespass—to obtain the autograph.

• An International Affair

  Dunstable's plan to feign illness after eating buckwheat cakes to make Ring's appear unwholesome, a clever deception to protect Cook's.

• Shields’ and the Cricket Cup

  Clephane uses clever tactics, such as the toss to advance to the final, outmaneuvering Henfrey's attempts to eliminate Shields'.

• The Politeness of Princes

  Chapple's schemes, such as sleeping with fewer blankets and setting his watch forward, which backfire humorously.

• Pillingshot, Detective

  Pillingshot uses the detective charade to manipulate Scott into releasing him from fagging, ultimately revealing he had the sovereign all along.