But the reminders came in much plainer language at recess.
“Here we go up, up, up, and here we go downy, downy!” cried a voice, followed by a chorus.
“I can’t help it,” said Carter. “I couldn’t get it, and I don’t see how you did.”
“Don’t you wish you knew?” sneered Davis.
“Isn’t he game, to flunk at a straw like that?” shouted one of the boys, who had had the example comfortably done for him the night before under the gaslight at home.
“Never mind, Carter; perhaps the professor will let you go back to long-division next term.”
Carter looked so distressed that Tom, though furious at the whole affair, began to take a little courage that he wasn’t so much more of a fool about such things, after all, than some other fellows, when Aleck’s voice was heard to come to the rescue.
“What’s that about long-division? If it’s anything that wants a long head, and a sure one too, Carter is the right one to take it. I’ve watched him all the term, and he’s had more of those tough examples right than I ever did when I went over them, and works them out on his own hook, too, without as much cribbing as some fellows want for a single lesson. Come round this afternoon, can’t you, Carter? I’m going to unrig my iceboat, and you can handle a tool much better than I can.”
Off scattered the mousers, the bell rang, and it was every man looking out for his own again, till the exercises were ended and the tide poured outward once more.