"Did you write the letter to me which purported to come from the Belgian
Minister of Foreign Affairs?"

"No, sir."

"Who did?"

"I don't know, sir."

"You don't know! Don't lie to me," said the professor, sternly.

"I do not."

"I know," added the learned gentleman, turning to the principal.

"McDougal, you say that a dozen boys were concerned in your proceedings.
Who were they?"

"I would rather not tell, sir. I am willing to own up to all I did
myself."

"You hear that, Mr. Lowington?" exclaimed the professor, with horror.

"Of course I hear it, Mr. Hamblin," replied the principal, impatiently.
"You may leave, McDougal."

"Leave, sir!" ejaculated Mr. Hamblin.

"Go, McDougal;" and he went. "You said you knew who wrote the fictitious
letter, sir."

"I do."

"Who was it?"

"Mr. Lowington, if that boy you sent away had told the whole truth, he
would have confessed that Mr. Kendall was at the bottom of all these
infamous proceedings."

"Captain Kendall!"

"Yes, sir; especially the plan to throw me into the water. When I
demanded a boat, I mentioned the gig. It was refused. Why? Because the
crew of the first cutter had been instructed to tip me overboard! It is
very strange that no one but myself has been able to understand the
vicious intentions of the boys."

"The gig is the captain's boat. The regulations require the captain to
give the professors the first cutter," explained Mr. Lowington.

"I was not aware of it at the time; but I am satisfied that the crew of
the first cutter had been instructed to pitch me into the river."

"If they were, you were very obliging to assist them as you did," added
the principal. "But go on. Do you suppose Captain Kendall instructed
McDougal to drench you with water?"

"Very likely."

"And then inflicted the severest punishment upon him for doing it? It is
absurd! That was the third and last offence. The captain put an end to
these tricks by his well-timed energy, and I am sure he had no part or
lot in them. Do you think he got some one to write the letter to you?"

"No, sir; I think he did it himself," replied the professor, more
calmly, as he came to what he considered his stronghold.

"I am not willing to believe it."

"I am prepared to prove it, sir."

"If Kendall has been guilty of such conduct,--if it can be shown that he
wrote the letter, or that he knew of its being written,--I will not only
suspend him, but I will reduce him to a common sai