the professor, harshly.

"We do, Mr. Haskers," returned Phil, boldly.

"Very well, young gentlemen; step in." And Job Haskers glared at the
boys as he stood aside for them to enter.

"We came to see you, sir, about those Latin lessons," went on Phil,
finding it just then difficult to speak. He realized that Job Haskers
was in no humor for being lenient.

"Well?" shot out the professor.

"We feel that we are not being treated fairly," put in Ben, believing
he should not make Phil do all the talking.

"Not treated fairly? I believe I am the best judge of that,
Basswood."

"Mr. Haskers, I hate to say it, but you are a hard-hearted man!" cried
out Phil, the door being closed, so that no outsider might hear. "You
are not giving us a fair chance. The other teachers have given me and
Dave Porter and Roger Morr several weeks in which to make up those
lessons we missed while we were away. You wish to give us only a
week."

"And you didn't give me a fair chance to make up," added Ben.

"See here, who is master here, you or I?" demanded Job Haskers,
drawing himself up. "Boys, you are impudent! I will not stand it!"

"Yes, you will stand it," cried Phil, throwing caution to the winds.
"All we ask is a fair deal, and you have got to give it to us. We'll
make up those lessons, if you'll give us a fair amount of time. I
don't intend to be put in a lower class for nothing."

"And I'm not going to stand it either," came from Ben.

"Ha! this to me?" snarled Job Haskers. "Take care, or I'll have you
dismissed from the Hall!"

"If you try it, it will be the worst day's work you ever did, Mr.
Haskers," warned the shipowner's son.

"What, you threaten me?"

"We are going to make you give us a fair chance, that is all. And if
you'll do that, we'll give you a fair chance."

"Why, why--you--you----" The irate instructor knew not for the moment
how to proceed.

"Mr. Haskers, I think you had better listen to me," pursued Phil.

"I have listened to all I care to hear."

"Oh, no, you haven't. There is much more--and you had better listen
closely--if you care at all for your reputation here at Oak Hall."

The professor stared at the boy and grew a trifle pale.

"Wha--what do you--er--mean by that, Lawrence?"

"I hate very much to bring this subject up, Mr. Haskers, but you
practically compel me to do it. If you will only promise to give us a
fair chance to make up our lessons, I won't say a word about it."

"Just what