"Mr. Haskers, what is it?" he heard Doctor Clay say.
"I must consult you about two of the students, sir," answered Job Haskers. "They have acted in a most disgraceful manner. They attacked me on the road with icy snowballs, nearly ruining my right ear, and when I called them to account in the office one of them began to fight and broke your statue of Mercury."
"Is it possible!" ejaculated the doctor, in pained surprise. "Who were the pupils?"
"Is this true, Mr. Haskers? Porter and Lawrence are usually well-behaved students."
"They acted like ruffians, sir--especially Porter, who attacked me and broke the statue."
"I will look into this without delay. Where are they now--in their room?"
"No, I locked them up in the book-room, to await your arrival. I did not deem it wise to give them their liberty."
"Ahem! prisoners in the book-room, eh? This is certainly serious. They cannot remain in the room all night."
"It would serve them right to keep them there," grumbled Job Haskers.
"There are no cots in that room for them to rest on."
"Then let them rest on the floor! The young rascals deserve it."
"Perhaps I'd better talk it over with the boys and see what they have to say, Mr. Haskers," went on the doctor, in a mild tone. "I do not believe in being too harsh with the students. Perhaps they only snowballed you as a bit of sport."
"Doctor Clay, do you uphold them in such an action?" demanded the irascible instructor.
"By no means, Mr. Haskers, but--boys will be boys, you know, and we mustn't be too hard on them if they occasionally go too far."
"Porter broke that statue,--and defied me!"
"If he broke the statue, he'll have to pay for it,--and if he defied you in the exercise of your proper authority, he shall be punished. But I want to hear what they have to say. We'll go to the book-room at once, release them, and take them to my office."
"It won't be necessary to go to the book-room, Doctor Clay," called out Dave from the upper landing.
"How did you get out?" cried Job Haskers, in consternation. "Didn't I lock that door?"
"You did, but Phil Lawrence and I got out, nevertheless," answered Dave.
"Up in our room in bed, and I was in bed, too, but got up when the doctor came in," added Dave.