“Leave it to Captain Putnam!” came from the right.
“Forget it and go on with the lessons,” added a voice from the left.
“Boys!” called out Jack and waved his hand. “Let me do the talking please.” And at once the classroom became silent.
“Ruddy, I want you to sit down!” thundered Josiah Crabtree.
“Perhaps it would be as well to listen to what he has to say,” whispered Pluxton Cuddle, who was growing a little alarmed at the demonstration the pupils seemed to be on the point of making.
“Mr. Cuddle, am I in authority here, or you?” demanded the unreasonable Crabtree.
“You asked me to assist you, sir,” answered Cuddle, sharply.
“So I did, but—but—these young ruffians must be taught to mind! The way they have acted is outrageous!”
“You won’t gain much by bullying them,” went on Pluxton Cuddle. “If I had my way, I know what I’d do, sir.”
“And what would you do?” snapped Josiah Crabtree.