CHAPTER XIX. SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE BEECH HILL REBELLION.
After dinner the students resumed their study of the plans for the boat-house and wharf. Some of them went over to the grove in the afternoon, but nothing more was seen of the Topovers that day. The lake was too rough to admit of the Chesterfields bringing them over in their barges. Probably the young gentlemen of the Collegiate Institute got enough of them before night.
The next morning the lake was smooth, and the two barges brought the marauders to the head of Porter's Bay. Some of the Beech Hill students were in the grove at the time, for it was a quiet place to work on the plans. Bolly Millweed spent the whole day there, seated on the shore where he could see the whole water front of the opposite side of the lake.
The other students were not deeply absorbed in their study of architecture, and they observed with interest the landing of the Topovers. The Chesterfields appeared to be on excellent terms with their allies, and quite a conference took place between them on the shore. Doubtless the Beech Hill students were the subjects of the conversation, for the Topovers frequently pointed in the direction of the estate, and seemed to be explaining the nature of the locality to their patrons.
Mad Twinker and Jeff Monroe walked up the hill to the centre of the grove, where they could see Beech Hill Lake and the school buildings. But the visitors soon returned to the other side of the lake, and the Topovers went to their homes. Most of the latter had been truants from school, and very likely many of them were punished for their misconduct either by their parents or their teachers.
Of course a great deal was said by the students at liberty about the rebels; but those who wore the uniform were emphatic in their condemnation of those who refused to put it on. The rebels were still required to stay in their rooms, and their meals were sent in to them. Each of them had been fitted by the tailor, and had taken his uniform to his own apartment.
The principal had sent word to them that, when they desired to return to their duties, all they had to do was to put on the uniform and take their places with their schoolmates. Although they were forbidden to communicate with one another or with the other members of the school, it is probable that each one knew what the others were doing.
The rebellion had not worked as they intended and expected. Lew Shoreham had been appointed the orator of the malcontents, and the battle was to be fought out with words in the schoolroom. This was not the principal's way of dealing with such cases. He gave the "jingo" element no chance at all.
On one of the first days of the school he detected a couple of students in the act of engaging in a fight. Investigation showed that there was no grievance between the parties, and the battle was to see which was "the best man." He locked them both up in the machine shop, and gave them two hours to ascertain which was the best man. With no one to witness the encounter they did not care to fight, and came out good friends.