Jim Smith, as he walked back to the institute, nursing his wrath, feltvery much like a dethroned king. He was very anxious to be revenged uponHector, but the lesson he had received made him cautious. He must gethim into trouble by some means. Should he complain to his uncle? Itwould involve the necessity of admitting his defeat, unless he couldgloss over the story in some way.
This he decided to do.
On reaching the school he sought his dormitory, and carefully wiped awaythe blood from his face. Then he combed his hair and arranged his dress,and sought his uncle.
Mr. Smith was at his desk, looking over his accounts, and estimating theprofits of the half year, when his nephew made his appearance.
"Uncle Socrates, I'd like to speak to you."
"Very well, James. Proceed."
"I want to complain of the new boy who came this morning."
Socrates Smith looked up in genuine surprise. As a general thing,his nephew brought few complaints, for he took the responsibility ofpunishing boys he did not like himself.
"What! Roscoe?" inquired the principal.
"Yes."
"Is he in any mischief?"
"Mischief? I should say so! Why, he's a regular young Turk."
"A young Turk? I don't think I understand you, James."
"I mean, he's a young ruffian."
"What has he been doing?" asked Socrates, in surprise.
"He pitched into me a short time ago," said Jim, in some embarrassment.
"Pitched into you! You don't mean to say that he attacked you?"
"Yes, I do."
"But he's a considerably smaller boy than you, James. I am surprisedthat he should have dared to attack you."
"Yes, he is small, but he's a regular fighter."
"I suppose you gave him a lesson?"
"Ye-es, of course."
"So that he won't be very likely to renew the attack."
"Well, I don't know about that. He's tough and wiry, and understandsboxing. I found it hard work to thrash him."
"But you did thrash him?" said Socrates, puzzled.
"Yes."
"Then what do you want me to do?"
"I thought you might punish him for being quarrelsome."
"It may be a good idea. I remember now that his uncle warned me that hewould need restraining."
"Just so, uncle," said Jim, eagerly. "His uncle was right."
"Well, I will give him a lecture. He will find that he cannot behave ashe pleases at Smith Institute," said Socrates, pompously. "He will findthat I do not tolerate any defiance of authority. I will speak of itafter vespers."
"Thank you, uncle."
"He'll get a raking down!" thought Jim, with gratification. "I'll makeit hot for him here, he may be sure of that."
Half an hour after supper was read a brief evening service calledvespers, and then the boys' study hours commenced. During this time theywere expected to be preparing their lessons for the next day.
The service was generally read by Socrates Smith, A. M., in person. Itwas one of the few official duties he performed, and he was generallyvery imposing in his manner on this occasion.
When the service had been read on that particular evening, the principaldid not immediately give the signal for study to be commenced. Instead,he cleared his throat, saying:
"Boys, I have a few words to say to you. This morning a new boy made hisappearance among us. His uncle, or perhaps I should say his guardian,attracted by the well-deserved fame of Smith Institute, came hither toenter him among my pupils. I received him cordially, and promisedthat he should share with you the rich, the inestimable educationaladvantages which our humble seminary affords. I hoped he would be anacquisition, that by his obedience and his fidelity to duty he wouldshed luster on our school."
Here Socrates blew his nose sonorously, and resumed:
"But what has happened? On the very first day of his residence here hebrutally assaults one of our numbers, my nephew, and displays the savageinstincts of a barbarian. His uncle did well to warn me that he wouldneed salutary restraint."
Hector, who had been amused by the solemn and impressive remarks ofSocrates, looked up in surprise. Had Allan Roscoe really traduced himin this manner, after robbing him of his inheritance, as Hector feltconvinced that he had done?
"Hector Roscoe!" said Socrates, severely; "stand up, and let me hearwhat you have to say for yourself."
Hector rose calmly, and faced the principal, by no means awe-stricken atthe grave arraignment to which he had listened.
"I say this, Mr. Smith," he answered, "that I did not attack yournephew till he had first attacked me. This he did without the slightestprovocation, and I defended myself, as I had a right to do."
"It's a lie!" muttered Jim, in a tone audible to his uncle.
"My nephew's report is of a different character. I am disposed tobelieve him."
"I regret to say, sir, that he has made a false statement. I will giveyou an account of what actually occurred. On my return from a walk hesent a boy summoning me to his presence. As he was not a teacher, andhad no more authority over me than I over him, I declined to obey, butsent word that if he wished to see me he could come where I was. I thenwalked down to the brook in Carver's field. He followed me, as soonas he had received my message, and, charging me with impertinence,challenged me to a fight. Well, we had a fight; but he attacked mefirst."
"I don't know whether this account is correct or not," said Socrates, alittle nonplused by this new version of the affair.
"I am ready to accept the decision of any one of the boys," said Hector.
"Bates," said Socrates, who knew that this boy was an adherent of hisnephew, "is this account of Roscoe's true?"
Bates hesitated a moment. He was still afraid of Jim, but when hethought of Hector's prowess, he concluded that he had better tell thetruth.
"Yes, sir," he answered.
Jim Smith darted an angry and menacing glance at his failing adherent.
"Ahem!" said Socrates, looking puzzled: "it is not quite so bad as Isupposed. I regret, however, that you have exhibited such a quarrelsomedisposition."
"I don't think I am quarrelsome, sir," said Hector.
"Silence, sir! I have Mr. Allan Roscoe's word for it."
"It appears to me," said Hector, undauntedly, "that your nephew is atleast as quarrelsome as I am. He forced the fight upon me."
"Probably you will not be in a hurry to attack him again," saidSocrates, under the impression that Hector had got the worst of it.
Some of the boys smiled, but Socrates did not see it.
"As you have probably received a lesson, I will not punish you as I hadanticipated. I will sentence you, however, to commit to memory the firstfifty lines of Virgil's 'AEneid.' Mr. Crabb, will you see that Roscoeperforms his penance?"
"Yes, sir," said Crabb, faintly.
"Is your nephew also to perform a penance?" asked Hector, undaunted.
"Silence, sir! What right have you to question me on this subject?"
"Because, sir, he is more to blame than I."
"I don't know that. I am not at all sure that your story is correct."
Mr. Crabb, meek as he was, was indignant at this flagrant partiality.
"Mr. Smith," he said, "I happen to know that Roscoe's story is strictlycorrect, and that your nephew made an unprovoked attack upon him."
Hector looked grateful, and Jim Smith furious.
"Mr. Crabb," said Socrates, angrily, "I did not ask your opinion. So faras my nephew is concerned, I will deal with him privately. Boys, you maybegin your studies."
All the boys understood that Jim was to be let off, and they thought ita shame. But Mr. Crabb took care to make Hector's penance as light aspossible.
And thus passed the first day at Smith Institute.
CHAPTER XV. THE USHER CONFIDES IN HECTOR.