"What can they do?" asked Vallington. "We can at least prepare for possibilities."
"They can take the boats from us," answered[156] Bob Hale, "and leave us here to be starved into submission2."
"It would be awkward to be obliged to return to the academy like whipped puppies; but I suppose we could be starved into it."
"We will look out for that," I added.
"How can you help it?"
"Leave that to me," I replied, as I hastened down to the landing-place, where I summoned my boatmen for service.
We took the three row-boats out of the water, and carried them some distance from the shore, hiding them in the bushes. The Splash was too large to be carried far; but we took her out of the water, and put her high and dry on the island. A force of twenty students had been placed under my command, and with a little engineering we made easy work even of these heavy jobs. The rudder of the sail-boat was unshipped, and concealed3, so that she would be useless to the invaders4, if they attempted to carry her off. There was no fear that they would try to tow the scow back to Parkville; for in doing this their punishment would be too severe.[157]
Having accomplished5 my work, I returned to the headland where Vallington had his headquarters, just as Mr. Parasyte's boat touched the shore below.
"We are all right now," I remarked to the leader.
"The boats are secure—are they?"
"They are."
"Very well; then we are ready to receive our visitors. I will appoint a committee of three to wait upon them and invite them to our headquarters."
Three students were detailed6 for this duty, and they descended7 the bluff8. Mr. Parasyte and the deputy sheriff followed them up the bank, where Vallington was ready to receive them in state, supported by his officers. The parson had instructed the rebels to treat our visitors with the utmost politeness, and enjoined9 them not to insult or annoy Mr. Parasyte. This was good advice, for some of the boys would have been glad to duck him in the lake, or to subject him to other indignities10, now that they had the power to do so.
The principal of the Parkville Liberal Institute had doubtless been very angry when he returned[158] to the school, and found that a "breaking away" had taken place; but he had cooled off during his passage over the lake, and now he looked troubled and anxious, rather than angry. As he walked towards the spot where the officers of the camp stood, he gazed curiously11 around him; but he said nothing.
"Vallington, I am very much surprised to find you with this party," were the first words he spoke12, as he discovered our leader, standing13 on his dignity, a little in advance of his supporters.
"Considering the circumstances, Mr. Parasyte, I am not at all surprised to find myself here," replied the parson. "If it were a mere14 frolic for the love of mischief, I should not be here. I presume you come on business, sir."
"On business!" exclaimed the principal, apparently15 taken aback by the remarks of Vallington. "I did come on business."
"You will oblige me by stating it, sir. I have been chosen the leader of this company, and I represent the students here assembled."
"My business is to order you back to the Insti[159]tute," continued Mr. Parasyte, becoming a little excited by the independent manner of our leader.
"In behalf of those whom I represent, I must decline to obey the order—at least for the present."
The eye of the deputy sheriff twinkled as he listened to these speeches. He seemed to regard the affair as a big joke, and to appreciate it accordingly. Though none of us had ever had any official relations with him, we knew him as what all the people called "a good fellow," witty16, jovial17, and never severe even in the discharge of his duties. It is more than probable that he knew Mr. Parasyte as the boys knew him, and despised him accordingly. At any rate, we judged from the expression on his round face, that he was at heart on our side, however his official position might compel him to act.
"I am sorry, boys, that you have engaged in this rebellion, for it will not be pleasant for me to compel obedience18," continued Mr. Parasyte, struggling to repress his anger.
"I am sorry, also, that we have been compelled to take this unpleasant stand," replied Vallington, with dignity. "If you are willing to hear it, sir, I should[160] like to state the position of the boys in this matter. Perhaps the difficulty can be arranged; if it can, we will at once return to the Institute."
"If there are any real abuses, I am willing to correct them. I will hear what you have to say."
Vallington briefly19 rehearsed the grievances20 of the boys, and demanded that Thornton should be restored to all his privileges, without punishment, and that Mr. Hardy21 should be reëngaged.
Mr. Parasyte turned red in the face, and bit his lips with anger and vexation.
"Are you the principal of the Parkville Liberal Institute, or am I?" said he, when the parson had finished.
"Neither of us, I think, as the matter now stands, sir."
"I see that you are determined22 to defy me," added Mr. Parasyte. "You ask me to restore Thornton without punishment of any kind. Are you aware that he assaulted me with a deadly weapon?"
"We are aware that he defended himself when assaulted."
"Assaulted!" gasped23 Mr. Parasyte, astounded24 to[161] hear his own act called by such a name. "Are you aware of the powers which the law lodges25 in the hands of the teacher?"
"I am."
"Thornton refused to obey me; and, at his uncle's request, I intended to enforce obedience. It was my duty to do so."
"May I inquire, Mr. Parasyte, in what Thornton refused to obey you?" asked Vallington, in the gentlest of tones.
"I required him to apologize to Poodles privately26, and to me publicly. He refused to do so."
"I told Mr. Parasyte that I would apologize to him," I interposed, addressing our leader.
"That wasn't enough," replied the principal.
"At the time, sir, you knew Poodles had confessed that he alone was to blame for the affair on the pier27. Thornton was innocent; and it had been fairly proved to you that he was innocent. Poodles himself assured you of the fact, and his evidence was fully28 confirmed by Pearl. In the face of this overwhelming proof, you attempted to flog Thornton into apologizing for that of which you knew he was not[162] guilty. No boy with a soul would submit to be flogged under such circumstances. I would not, and I have no respect for any fellow that would. No boy was ever yet flogged in the Institute, and it was an outrage29 to attempt such a thing."
Vallington was quite eloquent30, and Mr. Parasyte actually quailed31 as he poured out his feelings in well-chosen words, and with an emphasis which forced their meaning home to the heart. The tyrant32 had gone too far to recede33. He did what weak, low-minded men always do under such circumstances—he got furiously angry, and delivered himself in abusive terms. He declared that Poodles and Pearl had been frightened into their confession34, and persisted in saying that I had caused the quarrel on the pier.
"But it is no use to reason with you. I am going to compel obedience now. If you will not mind, I shall make you mind," foamed35 he, stamping the ground in his rage.
"We have nothing to say, sir, except that we shall defend ourselves from assaults of all kinds," added Vallington.[163]
"Assaults! How dare you use that word to me! I am in the lawful36 exercise of my authority as the principal of the Parkville Liberal Institute. You were committed to my care by your parents, and I shall do my duty by you. As to Thornton, his case shall be settled by the court. Mr. Greene, you have a warrant for his arrest."
"Yes, I have," replied the deputy sheriff, with a broad grin.
"That's the boy," continued Mr. Parasyte, furiously, as he pointed37 to me.
My companions were evidently disconcerted, as I certainly was, by this action of Mr. Parasyte. They had got up the rebellion on my account directly, though indirectly38 on their own, and it would be a sad defeat to have me carried off by an officer of the law. Mr. Greene walked up to me, still wearing his smiling face.
"Well, Ernest, I am sorry for you; but I suppose I must do my duty. I have a warrant for your arrest."
"I shall not resist," I replied.
"You shall have fair play."[164]
"That's all I want."
"I am sorry to take you away," he added, in a low tone; "for, between you and me, I think the boys have the rights of the matter; but I can't help serving the warrant."
"Put him in irons, Mr. Greene. He is a violent fellow," said Mr. Parasyte, savagely39.
"I shall not do that," replied the sheriff. "I can handle him without any irons."
"Mr. Greene," interposed Vallington, "will you allow me to look at your warrant?"
"Certainly, if you want to."
"Don't do it, Mr. Greene!" shouted Mr. Parasyte.
"Don't be so grouty, sir. The young gentleman may see it, if he wants to do so," replied the sheriff, with a broad grin on his fat face, as he handed the warrant to the parson. "I don't belong to your school, Mr. Parasyte, and I suppose I can do as I please."
The principal bit his lip again; and Vallington glanced at the legal document.
"This warrant speaks about 'our county of Adie[165]no,'" said the leader. "Are you aware, Mr. Greene, that this island is not in the county of Adieno?"
"No! Isn't it though?" laughed the sheriff.
"It certainly is not," added Vallington, returning the warrant to the sheriff.
"What odds40 does that make?" demanded Mr. Parasyte, angrily. "The offence was committed in Adieno county."
"Well, I don't know," said the sheriff. "I don't want to do anything that isn't lawful. It may be right to take him here; but I'm not sure, you see."
"That is absurd, Mr. Greene."
"I haven't been a deputy sheriff but about six months, and I'm not fully posted yet. We'll go back to Parkville, and if I find it's all right, I'll come over and arrest Ernest to-morrow. That will be soon enough."
Mr. Greene seemed to be the happiest person on the island; and Mr. Parasyte was so angry he could hardly contain himself.
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1
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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2
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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5
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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8
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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9
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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12
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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13
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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14
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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15
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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16
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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18
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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21
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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22
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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24
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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25
lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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27
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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28
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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29
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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30
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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31
quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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33
recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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34
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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35
foamed
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| 泡沫的 | |
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36
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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37
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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39
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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40
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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