"I couldn't help knowing it where I was, and I did contrive to say a word to him about going to the Doctor, but—"
"You told Tom you were to be punished for his fault, and he wouldn't make a clean breast of it to the governor!" I said, angrily.
"There, I told you it was better to let it pass, Stewart; you could do no good now," said Chandos, walking away.
But a sudden thought had seized me, and I placed myself in his path. "But you shall give me a plain answer to my question," I said; "not that I will believe it of Tom. It is you that are the sneak; you look one, with your white face and quiet ways, and I know you are only trying to set me against my old chum!" I was almost mad with rage, and longed to knock Chandos down; and for a minute he looked as though he would fight it out, but the next he had pushed me aside, and was striding on to take his place as long-stop in the game that was just beginning. I looked after him for a minute, thinking I would go and have it out, when I suddenly thought of going to Tom, and turned back to the workshop, where Tom was busy hacking at some wood for a rudder. "I say, old fellow, did Chandos tell you he was taking your punishment for the farm-yard scrape?" I asked.
"Oh, never mind Chandos; come and rub down this mast," said Tom, turning away.
"Then—he—did—tell—you!" I said, slowly.
"Didn't you know Chandos was a sneak before to-day?" said Tom, sharply.
"But—but tell me all about it, Tom," I said, rubbing my eyes, and feeling as though I must be dreaming.
"Oh, there ain't much to tell—nothing to make such a fuss about. The fellow came to me, and said he had got into a scrape through the things getting out; but of course I didn't believe him. This was an easy way of getting me into a row, as well as helping himself out."
"But, Tom, if he took your punishment, you know—"