“Stop, Nelson, I want no excuses,” roared Josiah Crabtree. “This lesson is simple enough for a child to learn.”
“I did my best,” put in Jack, half aloud.
“Ruddy, did you speak?” demanded the teacher, whirling around and eyeing the young major savagely.
“I did, sir. I said I did my best. As Joe says, we have never had——”
“Silence! Didn’t I say I wanted no excuses? Ditmore, you may translate from the beginning of paragraph twenty-four.”
“I didn’t study paragraph twenty-four,” answered Pepper. “I thought we were to take to twenty-two only.”
“I said twenty to twenty-five,” answered Josiah Crabtree, coldly. “If you can’t translate sit down, and I’ll mark you zero. Ritter, you may translate paragraph twenty-four for Ditmore’s benefit.”
The last words were said maliciously, for the teacher knew that Pepper and Ritter were on bad terms with each other. Pepper’s face reddened and he scowled. But a moment later he had to grin.
“Mr. Crabtree, I—er—I am not prepared to translate,” stammered Reff Ritter.
“What!” shouted the teacher.