recovered my coolness, and ventured to look around me.

The owners of the forty-two caps were seated at small green desks like
the one assigned to me. The desks were arranged in six rows, with spaces
between just wide enough to prevent the boys' whispering. A blackboard
set into the wall extended clear across the end of the room; on a raised
platform near the door stood the master's table; and directly in front
of this was a recitation-bench capable of seating fifteen or twenty
pupils. A pair of globes, tattooed with dragons and winged horses,
occupied a shelf between two windows, which were so high from the floor
that nothing but a giraffe could have looked out of them.

Having possessed myself of these details, I scrutinized my new
acquaintances with unconcealed curiosity, instinctively selecting my
friends and picking out my enemies--and in only two cases did I mistake
my man.

A sallow boy with bright red hair, sitting in the fourth row, shook
his fist at me furtively several times during the morning. I had a
presentiment I should have trouble with that boy some day--a presentiment
subsequently realized.

On my left was a chubby little fellow with a great many freckles (this
was Pepper Whitcomb), who made some mysterious motions to me. I didn't
understand them, but, as they were clearly of a pacific nature, I winked
my eye at him. This appeared to be satisfactory, for he then went on
with his studies. At recess he gave me the core of his apple, though
there were several applicants for it.

Presently a boy in a loose olive-green jacket with two rows of brass