they gave no heed to the
procession which passed into the structure. One glance told Tom that
it was without an occupant, and he strode hastily to the desk, the
others pausing near the door, ready to dash out in the event of
disaster.

The desk was unlocked and Tom raised the lid. The nest was laid on its
side, in the middle, but it was so big that he had to displace several
books to make room for it. Then the knots were untied, the
handkerchief flirted free, the lid lowered, and the deed was done.

Tom joined his companions with a radiant face. "Not a word," he
cautioned, "be extra good this afternoon; even I'll try to behave
myself for once, but we won't have to wait long."

"S'posin' them hornets lift the lid of the desk and come out before the
teacher gets here?" suggested Will Horton.

"What are you talking about?" was the scornful question of Dick Culver;
"how can a hornet raise the lid of a desk?"

"I don't mean that _one_ will do it, but, if they all join together and
put their shoulders to it, they'll lift more than you think."

But this contingency was too vague to be feared. A quarter of an hour
later, Mr. Lathrop entered the building with his brisk step, bidding
such children as he met a pleasant good afternoon, and hanging his hat
on the peg in the wall behind his desk, rang the bell for the children
to assemble, and took his seat in his chair on the platform.

The observant instructor quickly saw that something unusual was in the
wind. There was a score of signs that he detected in the course of a
few minutes, but he could have no idea what it all meant. He was on
the alert, however, and did not remain long in suspense.

The first hint was the sound of loud and angry buzzing within his desk.
While wondering what it meant, and in doubt whether to investigate, he
observed a hornet emerging through the key-hole. Before it could shake
itself free, he shoved him back with his key, which was inserted and
turned about, so effectually blocking the opening, that the insects
were held secure.

The teacher read the whole story, and it needed only a brief study of
Tom Britt's actions to make sure that he was the guilty one.

Much to the disappointment of the boys, Mr. Lathrop seemed to find no
occasion for opening his desk. It remained closed through the whole
afternoon and, when the moment for dismissal arrived, the only one to
remain was Tom Britt, who, while conducting himself fairly well, had