There were gasps of dismay, for many lads had formed pleasure-plans for the afternoon. Now they could not be carried out. More than this, there were one or two students, Tom among them, who, by remaining up late the night before, and studying unusually hard, and by cutting a safe lecture, had recited perfectly. Yet they were punished with the others.
“Fellows, we’ve reached the limit of endurance!” exclaimed Tom to his classmates, as they filed out on the campus, and got a safe distance away from the listening ears of Professor Skeel.
“That’s right!” came in a chorus.
“But what’s to be done?” asked Jack.
“Hang him in effigy, and burn the scarecrow afterward!” suggested Bert Wilson.
“Can you do both?” asked George Abbot.
“Dry up, Why!” came from several.
“Let’s hear from Tom,” suggested Jack.
“Hear! Hear!” came the shout.
“Fellows, we’ve stood all we’re called on to stand from Skeel,” went on Tom. “I’m sick and tired of being bullyragged.”