"Yes, an awful whipping," replied Willy; "did you?"
"Me? Of course not. Do you know how I work it? When father takes down the cowhide, I look him right in the eye, and that scares him out of it. He darsn't flog me!"
This was a downright lie. Fred was as great a coward as ever lived, and screamed at sight of a cowhide. He had been whipped for cheating about the cider, but would not tell Willy so.
Willy looked at him with surprise and something like respect. He could never seem to learn that Freddy's word was not to be trusted.
"Well, I'll do so next time," cried he, his eyes flashing fire.
"Look here," said Fred, crossing his knees, and looking important; "let's run away."
"Why, Fred Chase! 'Twould be wicked!"
"'Twouldn't, either. Things ain't wicked when folks don't catch you at it; and we can go where folks won't catch us, now I promise you."
Willy's heart leaped up with a strange joy. He would not run away, but if Fred had a plan he wanted to hear it.
"Why, where could we go?"