“N-no, sir,” Fred had to confess, “I was looking at the blackboard. But I know I’d have noticed it if he had made any motion. Besides,” he added in his attempt to help his friend, “if Bobby had been going to do anything of that kind he’d have told me beforehand.”
“That isn’t proof,” remarked the teacher; “especially when Hicksley says that he actually saw him do it. Do you still stick to that, Hicksley?”
“Yes sir,” answered Hicksley, who was scared now at the tempest he had raised but had gone too far to back out.
But he carefully avoided meeting the blazing eyes of Bobby.
“Go to your seats,” Mr. Leith ordered.
They obeyed, and as Hicksley sank down between Bronson and Jinks, he whispered in a panic:
“Don’t forget that you fellows have got to stand by me.”
Mr. Leith reflected for a moment.
“Did any one else see Blake throw the egg?” he asked at length.
Hicksley nudged his cronies and both raised their hands.