By this time he was scared nearly out of his wits, and stole a side glance at her to see if she had a switch in her hand.
"Don't whip me," he pleaded in a trembling voice. "Don't whip me, teacher; and I'll give you f-i-v-e thousand dollars!"
As he offered this modest sum to save himself from her wrath, the little teacher nearly laughed aloud, Henry did not know it, however; her face was hidden behind a book.
"What made you think, you silly boy, that I was going to punish you?" she asked as soon as she could find her voice. "Have you done something wicked?"
She spoke in a low tone for his ear alone, but he writhed under it as if it had been a blow.
"I—don'—know."
"He is the thief," thought Kyzie. "Oh, Henry, if you've done something wrong you must know it. Tell me what it was."
"I—can't!"
She put her lips nearer his ear. "Was it you and Joseph Rolfe together? Perhaps you both did something wicked?"
"I—don'—know."