Suddenly the child stretched up her hands. It was not a wish, but a prayer, that her young heart sent up to her country's flag.
"Help me to—play fair!" she whispered.
Louise saw her comrades only mistily when she came down the green knoll again toward them.
Then all became babel again.
"It's my time next!" exclaimed Luke Musgrove, shouldering forward.
"Who said so?" demanded another.
"I said so," answered the big boy rudely, and he strode to his place against the flagpole. "I wish," he began in a loud, strident voice, and without waiting for the wind to come hurtling across the green, "I wish to wring the neck of that German spy!"
All eyes were quickly turned from the flag to where a little wide-eyed boy shrank back in terror against the steps.
"Glory be!" shouted Billy Hastings. "Teacher's gone in—let's drag Rudolph under the flag!"
Instantly the flame of persecution swept them, and they started after the alien lad.