Inside of an hour after the boys left the office Josiah Crabtree came in and sat down.
“Now I will listen to what you have to say about Ruddy and Ditmore,” said the master of the Hall.
Josiah Crabtree told his tale, with many exaggerations. According to what he said, Jack and Pepper acted in a most vicious manner.
“They are natural-born young rascals,” said the assistant teacher. “If we can locate them, we must make examples of them, Captain Putnam.”
“Perhaps they are not so bad as you think, Mr. Crabtree.”
“They are every bit as bad—maybe worse. They ran away because they were afraid to face the consequences of their misdoings.”
“But they did not run away.”
“Wha—er—what?”
“They did not run away.”
At this announcement the jaw of the assistant instructor dropped.