"There you are," said Ben, restoring the hat to its owner. "But we are not rowdies—it was purely an accident," he added, with a little flash out of his clear eyes.
"Bah, I know schoolboys! They think it smart to be tough!" The man looked his silk hat over. "I ought to make you buy me a new hat."
"That doesn't seem to be damaged any," said Buster, as he looked the tile over. "If it is, of course we'll make it right," he added, hastily. He and Luke were holding the fishing rod at the time of the accident.
"Do you boys belong at Oak Hall?" demanded the man, smoothing down the roughed-up silk hat with his forearm.
"Yes," answered Dave.
"I thought so. Well, if this hat is cracked or anything like that I'll notify the master of the school, and make you get me a new hat. Maybe it will be a lesson to you, to be more careful."
"Let me see the hat, please," said Luke.
"What for?"
"I wish to see if it is really damaged."
"If it is, I'll let you know quick enough, don't fear."