“No, you’re not; I want you to go and dig some worms for bait. I am going a-fishing.”
“But your father told me to go to the field at once.”
“I can’t help that. He didn’t know I wanted you.”
“He will scold me if I don’t go to work.”
“That is my business. I tell you to go and dig some worms.”
Poor Bill! He knew very well that if Andrew got him into a scrape, he would not help him out, but leave his father to suppose that Bill disobeyed of his own accord—if necessary, stoutly asserting it, for Andrew was by no means a boy of truth.
“I would rather not go, Andrew,” said Bill uneasily.
“Then take that!”
And Andrew brutally struck him with a whip he had in his hand.
The bound boy flushed at this indignity. Gentle as he was, he resented a blow.