"Lie ye doon there, or I'll gie ye a crack that'll mak ye glad tae keep still." For half an hour the boys lay on the moss discussing the accident fully in all its varying aspects and possibilities, till the sound of wheels came up the road.
"Who's that, Fusie ?" asked Hughie, lazily.
"Dunno me," said Fusie, peering through the trees.
"Do you, Scotty ?" "No, not I." Hughie crawled over to the edge of the brush.
"Why, you idiots! it's Thomas Finch.

Thomas!" he called, but Thomas drove straight on.

In a moment Hughie sprang up, forgetting all about his weakness, and ran out to the roadside.
"Hello, Thomas!" he cried, waving his hand.

Thomas saw him, stopped, and looked at him, doubtfully.

He, with all the Section, knew how the school was going, and he easily guessed what took Hughie there.
"I'm not going to school to-day," said Hughie, answering Thomas's look.
Thomas nodded, and sat silent, waiting.