She backed away a few steps more; Joel followed her up, cutting all around her with the lightning play of an expert swordsman, just missing by the fraction of an inch, and showing a face that quite subdued the virago. Mrs. Steven backed to the door.
'Out!' thundered Ham, and she fled, banging the door between her and the dangerous cane.
'Oh crickey!' cried Gable in a high squeak that set the whole school laughing boisterously.
Mrs. Ben Steven reappeared at one of the windows, and threatened terrible things for Ham when her Ben returned; but Joel was consoling himself with his bottle again and was not in the least disturbed, and a minute later the school was plunged in a studious silence.
Peterson and Cann called late in the afternoon, as representatives of the
School Committee.
'We've come fer your permission to ask some questions of the boy Haddon,
Mr. Ham, sir,' said Peterson.
Joel received a great show of respect from most of the men of Waddy in consideration of his position and scholarship.
Dick was called out and faced the men, firm-lipped and with unconquerable resolution in the set of his face and the gleam of his eye.
''Bout this job o' goat-stealin'?' said Cann, with a grave judicial air.
'They stole my billy. I went to fetch him back, an' all the other goats come too,' Dick answered.