“For one, I should like to go on with the work until supper-time,” said Ben Ludlow.
“So would I!” shouted about all the rest of them.
“I think not, boys,” replied the captain. “I am glad to find you so much interested in your work, but we must not overdo it. We shall keep to our regular hours. The rest of the day, and the morning until nine o’clock, belongs to you; but you must not forget the lessons assigned to you for to-morrow. You may use the boats for a couple of hours now, if you choose. There are enough of the small craft to accommodate the whole school.”
The boys put on their coats, and left the shop. Some of them were curious to know what had become of Dick Short, and they walked to the maple-tree. But Mr. Brookbine ordered them off, saying that they were to have no communication with Dick. Tom still kept his position at the foot of the tree.
“Mr. Brookbine,” called Dick, when he saw the instructor come out of the shop.
“Well, my lad, what is it?” asked the carpenter. “Do you want to jump on another board, and kill a couple more boys?”
“I haven’t killed any boys,” replied Dick.
“If you haven’t, it isn’t your fault. You went to work in the right way to do it, or, at least, to hurt them badly. What do you want now?”
“Don’t you think I have been up this tree about long enough, Mr. Brookbine?” continued Dick in the meekest of tones.
“I don’t know: you know better than I do. If you haven’t been up there long enough to keep you from skylarking in school-hours, you had better stay there a week or two longer; and Tom will see that you don’t come down.”