"No, he did not!" protested Dory. "He said he did not believe the fellows would have drank the beer if they had worn the uniform of the school."
"Why not? Because they would be afraid of being found out?" sneered Life.
"Not at all. Didn't he say that he expected the fellows to have a proper regard for the honor and credit of the school? He thinks that respect for the institution would prevent the fellows from doing anything out of the way. The uniform would keep the fact that they are members constantly in their minds. In Boston all the pupils of the high schools wear a uniform cap."
"I don't see it in that light, and I look upon wearing a uniform as a punishment, served out to the innocent as well as the guilty."
"If I were you I should go and put the uniform on, and then carry my grievance to the principal," added Dory, sorry that the stroke oarsman of the boat should get himself into trouble for nothing at all.
"We argued the matter yesterday. I am not the only fellow who won't wear the uniform. There are eight of us, and we had a meeting this morning," replied Life, "and not one of them will put on monkey rigging."
"You are making a bad mistake, Life. Not a word was said yesterday about punishment, and I am sure my uncle will set matters right if you only obey orders. If you stand out, he won't say a word to comfort you. Put on the uniform, go to him this morning, and say that you object to wearing it, for you look upon it as a punishment, served out to the innocent as well as the guilty," reasoned Dory.
"We said all we had to say yesterday," replied Life; and he joined several others not in uniform as they went into the building.
In the schoolroom Dory had a chance to see who the rebels were, for all the others wore the uniform, while the objectors had on the garments in which they had come to the school. There were four from the first class, and four from the second. Besides Life Windham, of his own crew, he found Phil Gawner, Lick Milton, and Tom Ridley. He was sorry he had not known who the rebels were before, for he thought he could have influenced them in the right direction. Ben Ludlow, who had had the most to say against the uniform the day before, wore the prescribed costume.