"I am not aware that it does. I have not lost any money," added the principal.
"Has any one about the school lost any, sir?" inquired Bent, who began to think he had proceeded too rapidly.
"I have not heard of any one who has lost any money. Perhaps you had better explain where you got it, as you seem to be anxious to get rid of it," suggested the captain.
"We went on a little lark in the Lily, but some of us concluded to bring her back," replied Bent, fixing his gaze upon the ground, which is the proper thing for a penitent to do.
"Where is Tom Topover, who went with you?" asked the principal, as he looked at the three excursionists who had presented themselves before him. "Where are Splugger and Dumper?"
"We left them asleep on board of the Lily," replied Bent, with a smile, as he watched the expression of the principal. "As they don't show themselves, I suppose they are still asleep."
Bent Fillwing chuckled when he thought of the trick he had played on Tom Topover. He had expected a fight with him, and he had even been ready for that; for he did not believe so much in the pugilistic prowess of the bully as most of the students, and he was at home in that sort of business. He thought he knew how to manage the principal: and he was acting all the time, as much as though he had been the leading card in a show.
The story of Ash Burton and Sam Spottwood, who had escaped the consequences of the stealing of the Goldwing, was well known; and the principal seemed to have a weakness in the direction of penitents, if he had one in any direction. It was evident that he knew all about the scrape as far as it could be ascertained at Beech Hill, for he had mentioned all the names of the party not before him.
"You seem to be amused at something, Fillwing," continued Captain Gildrock, smiling himself.
"We have concluded to tell the whole truth, and keep nothing back, not even the money," said Bent; though he had a sort of suspicion that he had been a little premature in disposing so suddenly of the sixty dollars.