"You might call it sneaking if you like, but I would do it, for I
hate such brutal cruelty. I don't see how it could have been any
of the fellows, for they would have had to get out of the bedroom
and into it again; besides, I don't see how they could have caught
the cat if they did get out; but whether it was one of the fellows
or not makes no difference. I say it's injustice to punish every
one for the fault of one or two fellows.

"I suppose he thinks that in time we shall give up the names of
the fellows who did it. As far as I am concerned, it will be just
the other way. If I had known who had done it this morning, when
he accused us, I should have got up and said so, because I think
fellows who treat dumb animals like that are brutes that ought to
be punished, but I certainly would not sneak because Hathorn punished
me unjustly. I vote we all refuse to do the work he has set us."

This bold proposition was received with blank astonishment.

"But he would thrash us all fearfully," Tompkins said.

"He daren't if we only stuck together. Why, he wouldn't have a
chance with us if we showed fight. If we were to say to him, 'We
won't do these extra tasks; and if you touch one of us the whole
lot will pitch into you,' what could he do then?"

"I will tell you what he could do, Sankey," Tom Room, a quiet,
sensible boy, replied. "If we were in a desert island it would be
all well enough, he could not tyrannize over us then: but here it
is different. He would just put on his hat and go into the town,
and in ten minutes he would he back again with the six constables,