Silence followed Tom's dramatic announcement. He remained on his feet, looking at Sam Heller, who also stood, and then the gaze of our hero wandered to the troubled, but still serene, countenance of Doctor Meredith.
"Young gentlemen," began the head of the School gently, "I must ask you to be calm."
"But, Doctor," said Tom respectfully, "I must deny the charge that has been brought against me. I never had the most remote connection with setting the hay stacks afire, nor in poisoning the horses. I cannot make my denial too strong."
"No one has accused you of either crime, my dear boy," said the doctor.
"You are a bit too hasty, I fear."
"But Heller has seen fit to say that he suspects me," went on Tom, looking his enemy full in the face.
"No," said Sam, and he could not conceal the triumph in his voice. "I did not say that. What I did say, and what I repeat was, that on the night the horses were poisoned I saw Tom Fairfield leave the dormitory, wearing a sweater like mine, and later I saw him near the lane leading to Mr. Appleby's farm. That's all I care to say."
"And what do you answer to that, Fairfield?" asked the doctor gravely.
"Were you or were you not there?"
"I do not see how that affects the matter at all," said Tom, trying to speak calmly. "I, or anyone, might have been in the vicinity of the farm without having had a hand in the poisoning of the horses."
"That is true, but will you answer the question. Were you there?"
"I was not, sir," exclaimed Tom, steadily. There was a breath of relief from Jack and Bert.