"I have broken my cane; so bring me a stout switch," said he, "Bring me one out of the orchard; one that will lay on well--one that will not break with a good hard stroke;--mind what I say--one that will not break." "Yes, sir," replied Dale, readily; and he went as if he was not at all unwilling. Holt shivered. Hugh never moved. It was long, very long, before Dale returned. When he did, he brought a remarkably stout broomstick. "This wont break, I think, sir," said he. The boys giggled. Mr. Carnaby knuckled Dale's head as he asked him if he called that a switch. "Bring me a _switch_," said he. "One that is not too stout, or else it will not sting. It must sting, remember,--sting well. Not too stout, remember." "Yes, sir," said Dale; and away he went again. He was now gone yet longer; and by the time he returned everybody's eyes were fixed on the door, to see what sort of a switch would next appear. Dale entered, bringing a straw. "I think this will not be too stout, sir." Everybody laughed but Hugh--even Holt. There was that sneer about Mr. Carnaby's nose which made everybody sorry now for Dale: but everybody started, Mr. Carnaby and all, at Mr. Tooke's voice, close at hand. How much he had seen and heard, there was no knowing; but it was enough to make him look extremely stern. "Are these boys not caned yet, Mr. Carnaby?" "No, sir;--I have not--I----" "Have they been standing here all this while?" "Yes, sir. I have no cane, sir. I have been sending----" "I ordered them an immediate caning, Mr. Carnaby, and not mental torture. School is up," he declared to the boys at large. "You may go--you have been punished enough," he said to the little boys. "Mr. Carnaby, have the goodness to remain a moment." And the large room was speedily emptied of all but the master, the usher, and poor Lamb. "The usher will catch it now," observed some boys, as the master himself shut the door behind them. "He will get well paid for his spite." "What will be done to him?" asked Hugh of Dale, whom he loved fervently for having saved him from punishment. "Oh, I don't know; and I don't care--though he was just going to give my head some sound raps against the wall, if Mr. Tooke had not come up at the moment." "But what _will_ be done to Mr. Carnaby?" "Never mind what; he wont be here long, they say. Fisher says there is another coming; and Carnaby is here only till that other is at liberty." This was good news, if true: and Hugh ran off, quite in spirits, to play. He had set himself diligently to learn to play, and would not be driven off; and Dale had insisted on fair scope for him. He played too well to be objected to any more. They now went to leap-frog; and when too hot to keep it up any longer, he and Dale mounted into the apple-tree to talk, while they were cooling, and expecting the dinner-bell.