"Joe's hand is awful swelled up," said Bob, as he threw himself down on the grass.
"What's the matter with him?" asked Warren.
"Gray-beard beat Joe's hand like everything; he was so mad I thought he'd kill the boy." Then I recounted the scene, adding, "I can't think of anything else; it was awful!"
"Did he do anything to you?" asked Edwin.
"He shook me right hard when he asked me who did it; but when he saw Joe crying he knew who it was; then he let go of me and whipped him."
Brush had been listening to my story without a word; now he arose and said, "Boys, stay here till I come back."
He went into the house and knocked at the superintendent's door.
"I'm glad to see you Brush," said the superintendent, kindly. "Have you finished the book, and do you want another?"
"No, sir; I wish to speak to you about something that happened to-day, which I don't think is quite right, and I thought you ought to know about it." Then he told in a simple straightforward manner the story of Joe's punishment.
When Brush had finished, the superintendent sent for Gray-beard. For a long time the two men talked earnestly together. At length Brush returned, and said, as he took his seat among us: