"Eight of us, sir," said Bob Swanton.
"I wish to say, Captain Gildrock, that we do so with entire respect to you, sir," added Lew Shoreham.
"With entire respect to me, you intend to disobey my orders," said the principal, with a smile.
"We have agreed that not a disrespectful word shall be spoken to you, sir," continued Lew, who had apparently been appointed the spokesman for the rebellion.
"In other words, you intend to do wrong in a gentlemanly way, which is perhaps better than doing it in an ungentlemanly way," added the principal.
"I desire to give the reasons why we decline to wear a uniform," said Lew Shoreham, rising from his chair as though he intended to make a speech of some length; and perhaps he could do it better than any other student in the school.
"I decline to hear the reasons—I respectfully decline. After I have given an order I don't argue the matter," replied Captain Gildrock.
"But we wish—"
"While you stand in the attitude of disobedience, you must excuse me from listening to what you wish, Shoreham. Those who have decided not to wear the uniform of the Beech Hill Industrial School may stand."
The eight rebels rose from their seats, and stood by the side of their desks. They held their heads up as though they meant to be manly and independent, and no doubt they felt so.