day is the evil thereof,'" quoted Dave. "I think
we can get through if we buckle down hard."

"Supposing Mr. Dale and the other teachers pin us down as old Haskers
did?" demanded Phil.

"They won't do it," declared our hero. "Take my word for it, Mr. Dale
will give us a month, if we want it. I know him. And the others will
do the same."

"Well, maybe we can get through, if that's the case," said the
shipowner's son, slowly. "Just the same, I think old Haskers the
meanest man alive."

The following morning, after a good night's rest, the boys went to
their various classes. As Dave had predicted, Mr. Dale, the head
teacher, treated them with all possible consideration, for he loved
boys and understood them thoroughly. The other teachers were likewise
very lenient.

"Old Haskers is the one stumbling-block," said Roger. "Dave, maybe we
had better see Doctor Clay about him."

"Not much!" cried Phil. "We've got a club we can use on Haskers. Why
not use it?"

"You mean, go to him and tell him we know about that Mrs. Breen
affair, and that we will expose him if he doesn't let up on us, Phil?"
said Dave.

"Yes."

"Do you think that is a--well, a gentlemanly thing to do?"

"It's what old Haskers would do, if he was in our place."

"Perhaps. But I'd rather not do it. Let my uncle's lawyer try to
collect that money without our appearing in the case. We have had
trouble enough in the past with Haskers. Let us buckle in and study
up. I am sure we can get through," added Dave, earnestly.

"All right," growled Phil; but his manner showed that he was not
satisfied.

Two days went by, and the boys settled down to the regular routine of
the school. The lessons to be made up were exceedingly hard, and Dave
found he had to study almost constantly to do what was required of
him.

"But I am going to make it!" he murmured, setting his teeth hard. "I
am not going to disappoint the folks at home."

One afternoon the three chums had a very hard lesson in Latin to do.
It was a clear, sunshiny day and they had one of the windows wide open
to let in the fresh air. Dave and Roger were bending over their books
when they heard a sudden exclamation from Phil.

"I'll be hanged if I'm going to do it!"

And then of a sudden a Latin book was hurled across the room, to land
on a bureau, just missing the glass.

"Hello!" cried Dave, raising his head. "What's wrong now?"

"I'm not going to do it!" cried Phil, stretching himself. "It'