Lester looked appealingly to Brush, then to Alexander. Aleck was writing the sentence in his book; but, when he heard Gray-beard's threat to whip Lester, he arose without finishing the last word. All eyes turned upon him, and there was a stir among the pupils. "What is it, Alexander," asked Gray-beard, "what do you know about this strange performance?" "Lester is not to blame, sir; I made him go out of the window, and I held the rope to let him down." "And I helped him to do it," came from a voice in another part of the room; it was Brush, who had silently risen; "we compelled the two--we compelled Lester to go out of the window." "You said there were two boys who were going out of the window, who was the other?" asked Gray-beard, determined to find out all the participants in the mischief. Those of us who knew, looked toward Joel; an expression of fear stole over his face and he anxiously awaited Brush's answer. "I did not say that, sir," he replied; "Lester was going down alone." Joel gave a sigh of relief. "What made you force the boy to go out of the window; where were you sending him?" "We were sending him to the village." "What were you sending him to the village for?" "I refuse to answer," was the bold reply. Gray-beard, seeing that there would be no use in questioning Brush, turned to Alexander and asked, "What were you sending Lester to the village for?" "I was sending him to go there and return." "Alexander, I want no foolishness; tell me what you were sending Lester to the village for?" "I refuse to answer." "This abusing of smaller boys by the large ones, and making them do things that are improper, must be stopped; it has gone far enough. Lester, you may take your seat. Frank, take this knife and get me two good hickory switches. Do you know a hickory-tree?" "Yes, sir," I answered, as I took the knife. I knew every kind of tree growing around the school, and I had a suspicion that Gray-beard did not know the difference between a hickory sapling and some others. I cut two formidable-looking switches of linden, closely resembling hickory. I had time to fully doctor only one of the switches, by driving the knife-blade deep into the wood every two or three inches. When I entered the school-room, Gray-beard took a glance at the switches, then said: "Alexander and Brush will step to my desk and take off their coats." The two boys stood in their shirt sleeves; I kept watch of Gray-beard's eyes, and saw that he was going to take Brush first; so when he was ready I handed him the fully doctored switch. "Is that hickory?" he asked, trying it on the air; "I suspect it isn't." I made no reply. "Stand in the middle of the floor," said Gray-beard to Brush.