“You wrote this, Cox?” said Mr. Harmer.
“No, sir,” replied Harry Cox quickly, and then stammered out: “I mean yes, sir.”
“You told me a lie then when you said you had not been assisted?”
Harry Cox turned very red and said nothing. It was useless for him to deny it.
“I am perfectly well aware that you had been assisted. For telling me an untruth I shall give you six sums extra to do; and if I find you out in another lie, I shall cane you. Davidson, as you are not a teacher here, I shall be obliged to you if you will confine your attention to your own work. If the boys require assistance, either Walter Parker or myself will help them. As you are a new boy, I will say nothing more this time, but don’t do it again.”
Alfred looked somewhat foolish, but not so much so as Cox, who was less grieved at his fault than at being found out and punished.
Several of the boys had arranged to have an hour on the river later in the day, and as Alfred was running off to join his new friends, Walter Parker and Steve Gray, King met him.
“Davidson, come here,” he cried out. “Where are you off to?”
“The boats,” replied Alfred, without stopping.