We hoped for Boddy to make another attempt to touch Heriot; he held near the master, looking ready to spring, like a sallow panther; we kept hoping he would, in our horror of the murderous slashes of the cane; and not a syllable did Heriot utter.

Temple and I started up, unaware of what we were going to do, or of anything until we had got a blow a-piece, and were in the thick of it, and Boddy had us both by the collars, and was knocking our heads together, as he dragged us back to our seats.

But the boys told us we stopped the execution.

Mr.Rippenger addressed us before he left the school-room.

Saddlebank, Salter, and a good many others, plugged their ears with their fists.