One more sharp trial was in store for him. Towards the close of the afternoon Bob's fun took the form of paper balls, which, at every turn of Mr. Burrows's back, spun through the room in all directions; two or three of the smaller scholars joined him, and a regular fire of balls was kept up. The boys complained--Mr. Burrows scolded. At last he spoke this short, prompt sentence: "The next boy I catch throwing paper, or anything else, in this room to-day, I shall punish severely; and I shall expect any scholar who sees anything of this kind going on to inform me." Not five minutes after that Mr. Burrows bent over his desk in search of something within, when--whisk! went the largest paper ball that had been thrown that day, and landed on the teacher's forehead. Some of the scholars laughed, some looked grave and startled, for Mr. Burrows was a man who always meant what he said. "Does any one know who threw that ball?" he asked, closing his desk and speaking in a calm, steady tone. No reply,--silence for a minute. Then, "Ellis Holbrook, do you know who threw that ball of paper?" "Yes, sir." "Very well; I am waiting to be told." "Tip Lewis threw it, sir." This was a little too much for Tip. The first time in his life that he had ever been in school all day without throwing one, to be so accused! He sprang up in his seat with fire in his eyes. "I didn't!" he almost screamed. "He knows I didn't! It is a mean, wicked lie!" "Sit down," said Mr. Burrows. "Ellis, did you _see_ him throw it?" "Yes, sir, I did." Mr. Burrows turned to Tip. "Edward, come here." Tip was still standing. "Say you won't," whispered Bob. "Say you won't stir a step for the old fellow. If he goes to make you, we'll see who'll beat." But the command was repeated, and Tip went forward, fixing his steady eyes on Mr. Burrows as he spoke. "Mr. Burrows, as sure as I live, I _did_ not throw that paper ball." And yet--poor Tip!--he knew he would not be believed; he knew his word could not be trusted; he knew he had often stood there and as boldly declared what was _not_ true, and what had been proved in a few minutes to be false. No, nobody believed Tip. He had earned, among other things in the school, the name of hardly ever speaking the truth; and now he must suffer for it. So he stood still and received the swift, hard blows of the ruler on his hands; stood without a tear or a promise. Mr. Burrows had not a doubt of his guilt, for had not Ellis Holbrook, whose word was law in the school, said he saw the mischief done? and did not Tip always deny all knowledge of such matters until made to own them? Still, this time the boy resolutely refused to confess that he had thrown a bit of paper that day, and went back to his seat with smarting hands and the stern words of his teacher ringing in his ears. What a heavy, bitter heart the poor boy carried out from the schoolroom that afternoon, he felt as though he almost hated every scholar there,--_quite_ hated Ellis Holbrook.