.

Unfortunately for Jack, his mother stayed away to tea, sending Jack word
that he would have to get his own supper, and that she would come home
early in the evening. Jack ate his bowl of bread and milk in solitude,
trying to make himself believe that his mother would approve of his
taking part in the "shiveree" of the old master. But when he had
finished his supper, he concluded that if his mother did not come home
in time for him to consult her, he would remain at home. He drew up by
the light and tried to study, but he longed to be out with the boys.
After a while Bob Holliday and Harry Weathervane came to the door and
importuned Jack to come with them. It was lonesome at home; it would be
good fun to celebrate the downfall of the old master's cruel rule, so,
taking down an old dinner-bell, Jack went off to join the rest. He was a
little disgusted when he found Riley, Pewee, and Ben Berry in the
company, but once in the crowd, there was little chance to back out with
credit. The boys crept through the back alleys until they came in front
of Mr. Higbie's house, at half past eight o'clock. There was but one
light visible, and that was in Mr. Ball's room. Jack dropped behind, a
little faint of heart about the expedition. He felt sure in himself that
his mother would shake her head if she knew of it. At length, at a
signal from Bob, the tin pans, big and little, the skillet-lids grinding
together, the horns, both conch-shell and tin, and the big bass-drum,
set up a hideous clattering, banging, booming, roaring, and racketing.
Jack rang his dinner-bell rather faintly, and stood back behind all the
rest

"Jack's afraid," said Pewee. "Why don't you come up to the front, like a
man?"

Jack could not stand a taunt like this, but came forward into the
cluster of half-frightened peace-breakers. Just then, the door of Mr.
Higbie's house was opened, and some one came out.

"It's Mr. Higbie," said Ben Berry. "He's going to shoot."

"It's Bugbee, the watchman, going to arrest us," said Pewee.

"It's Mr. Ball himself," said Riley, "and he'll whip us all." And he
fled, followed pell-mell by the whole crowd, excepting Jack, who had a
constitutional aversion to running away. He only slunk up close to the
fence and so stood still.

"Hello! Who are you?" The voice was not that of Mr. Higbie, nor that of
the old master, nor of the watchman, Bugbee. With some difficulty, Jack
recognized the figure of Doctor Lanham. "Oh, it's Jack