Jacker replied with a grunt of derisive and implacable bitterness, but
the schoolmaster seemed much comforted by his apophthegm, and stood for
several minutes surveying the back of McKnight's head, and wearing a
benignant and thoughtful smile.

CHAPTER III.

WADDY was soon possessed of the facts of the shameful acts of
insubordination at the school and the escape of Dick Haddon and Ted
McKnight, and nobody--according to everybody's wise assurances--was the
least bit surprised. The fathers of the township (and the mothers, too)
had long since given Dick up as an irresponsible and irreclaimable imp.
One large section declared the boy to be 'a bit gone,' which was
generally Waddy's simple and satisfactory method of accounting for any
attribute of man, woman, or child not in conformity with the dull rule of
conduct prevailing at Waddy. Another section persisted in its belief that
'the boy Haddon' was possessed with several peculiar devils of
lawlessness and unrest, which could only be exorcised by means of daily
'hidings,' long abstinence from any diet more inflammatory than bread and
water, and the continuous acquisition of great quantities of Scripture.

An extraordinary meeting of the School Committee was held at the Drovers'
Arms that evening to confer with Joel Ham, B.A., and consider what was
best to be done under the circumstances. The men of the township
recognised that it was their bounden duty to support the master in an
affair of this kind. When occasion arose they assisted in the capture of
vagrant youths, and when Joel imagined a display of force advisable they
attended at the punishment and rendered such assistance as was needful in
the due enforcement of discipline. It was understood by all that the