crowd to singing a song about me."

"I had nothing to do with the song, and all the boys have called you
Tubby since you came here," went on Sam.

"Be quiet, I tell you!" cried Jasper Grinder, and clutched the arm of
each so tightly that Tubbs set up a yell of pain. "I am master here, and
I will show you how to mind."

At these words Sam's heart gave a sudden drop. It was Friday afternoon,
and the next day would be, as usual, a holiday. Taking advantage of this
fact Professor Strong had gone to Buffalo to visit a sick relative
residing there, and only an hour before Captain Putnam had been driven
away behind his team to visit an old army friend living at Fordview,
twelve miles away. Professor Strong would not return until Monday
morning, and it was more than likely the captain would remain away over
night. During this interval Jasper Grinder would be in absolute charge
of the academy and the pupils.

In a few minutes the teacher had led the way into Captain Putnam's
office, and with a final pinch of their arms, which made Tubbs cry out
once more with pain, he flung the pair away from him.

"Don't you know it is disgraceful to fight?" he thundered.

"We weren't fighting--that is, not exactly," said Tubbs meekly.

"Silence! I saw the whole affair. Why, your nose is still bleeding."

"I don't care. It was Rover's fault, Mr. Grinder. He started the boys,
and they all began to make fun of me. He wouldn't stop----"

"And then you fought like a pair of young tigers. Disgraceful! I will
have to make an example of both of you."

"I'd like to see Captain Putnam about the matter," said Sam boldly.

At these words Jasper Grinder fairly trembled with suppressed anger.
"The captain is not here, and I shall deal with you as you deserve," he
said.

Tubbs sank down on a chair and began to attend to his nose with his
handkerchief. Sam remained standing, but his whole manner showed that he
did not consider he was being treated fairly.

"What both of you boys deserve is a good thrashing," said the teacher,
after a pause.

At this Sam looked his surprise. Thrashing was not permitted at the
Hall. The worst that could happen to a student was to place him in
solitary confinement over night, after a supper of bread and water.

"As I am not permitted by the rules to thrash you, I shall put you in
the stone cell over night," went on Jasper Grinder.

"Together?" questioned Tubbs, from behind his blood-stained
handkerchief.

"