CHAPTER XXV
OFF FOR A SWIM
Bobby sat as if stunned. There was bitter revolt in his heart against the injustice of it all. And, in addition, he felt as though he would like to get at Hicksley and thrash him well.
But for the moment he was helpless. The evidence was against him, and he was too proud to make any further protest or appeal to Mr. Leith.
To the rest of the boys, the sentence came like a clap of thunder. They were fond of Bobby and believed he was telling the truth. They would have been sorry to see him punished for any reason. But it was not only the fact of the punishment, but the nature of it, that filled them with consternation. Bobby Blake off the ball team! Where would Rockledge be now in the race for the pennant of the Monatook Lake League?
The lessons proceeded, but the class might as well have been dismissed at once, for only one thought filled the minds of all. And when at last the gong rang, there was a rush for Bobby on the campus, and a buzzing arose that resembled a hive of angry bees.
It was well for the bullies that, sitting on the rear seats, they had slipped out of the door quickly and disappeared. They would surely have come to grief in the present excited condition of the boys.
Fred slammed his books so violently on the ground that he broke the strap that held them.
“Just wait!” he stormed, “just wait! I’ll pitch into that Tom Hicksley the minute I see him, big as he is.”
“It would have been bad enough of him to tell, even if Bobby had done it,” growled Mouser.
“He ought to have his head knocked off,” raged Skeets.