“Phil, do you remember the sentiment with which you headed your final composition of last year?”
“Yes, sir,” answered the boy; “of course I do. My father gave it to me, and I shall never forget it.”
“What was its exact wording?”
“‘Regard honor as more precious than life itself; for without the former the latter is valueless,’” repeated Phil, in a low tone.
“You would hardly care to sacrifice your life for the sake of this trip?”
“No, sir, nor my honor either!” cried the lad, with a brave tremble in his voice. “So, as I cannot say with perfect truth that I am inside of number five in all my studies, I will write to father to-night, and tell him the proposed trip must be given up.”
“Spoken like the honest, true-hearted Yankee lad that you are, Phil Ryder!” exclaimed Mr. Blake, grasping the boy’s hand, and holding it tightly clasped. “Stick to that principle through life, and you will have mastered the secret of all true success. But let us look into this matter a little further. I happen to have noticed a private transaction between you and lame Jimmy the other day. If you had not, as I believe purposely, made the same mistake that he did you would have gone above him, and would now stand number four instead of number five in geometry. Now, on account of that I have a proposition to make. While I am sorry not to have you graduate with your class, I know that your father has good reasons for wishing you to visit Alaska this summer, while with you the desire to join him there is very great.”
“Indeed it is, sir!”
“Well, then, if you will give me your word of honor not to divulge a word of their contents, I will place the forthcoming examination papers of your class in your hands. If you can satisfactorily answer ninety per cent. of their questions, you will stand safely within the number named by your father, and I will give you a certificate to that effect.”