Not so Jimmie.

He stood numb with fear and horrible expectation.

The master lifted up the strap.
"James, hold out your hand!" Jimmie promptly clutched his hand behind his back.
"Hold out your hand, sir, at once!" No answer.
"James, you must do as you are told.

Your punishment for disobedience will be much severer than for laughing." But Jimmie stood pale, silent, with his hands tight clasped behind his back.
The master stepped forward, and grasping the little boy's arm, tried to pull his hand to the front; but Jimmie, with a roar like that of a young bull, threw himself flat on his face on the floor and put his hands under him.

The school burst into a laugh of triumph, which increased the master's embarrassment and rage.
"Silence!" he said, "or it will be a worse matter for some of you than for James." Then turning his attention to Jimmie, be lifted him from the floor and tried to pull out his hand.