"Come forward, sir! I'll put an end to your insubordination, at any
rate. Hold out your hand!"

Thomas held out his hand till the master finished one birch rod.

"The other hand, sir!"

Another birch rod was used up, but Thomas neither uttered a sound nor
made a move till the master had done, then he asked, in a strained
voice, "Were you going to give Jimmie all that, sir?"

The master caught the biting sneer in the tone, and lost himself
completely.

"Do you dare to answer me back?" he cried. He opened his desk, took out
a rawhide, and without waiting to ask for his hand, began to lay the
rawhide about Thomas's shoulders and legs, till he was out of breath.

"Now, perhaps you will learn your place, sir," he said.

"Thank you," said Thomas, looking him steadily in the eye.

"You are welcome. And I'll give you as much more whenever you show that
you need it." The slight laugh with which he closed this brutal speech
made Thomas wince as he had not during his whole terrible thrashing, but
still he had not a word to say.

"Now, James, come here!" said the master, turning to Jimmie. "You see
what happens when a boy is insubordinate." Jimmie came trembling. "Hold
out your hand!" Out came Jimmie's hand at once. Whack! fell the strap.