He continued to approach, however, vowing, as he did so, that he would beat the life half out of him.

True to his word, and in self-defence, Andrew threw the stone, which struck the boy full on the forehead and knocked him down.

For some minutes he lay stunned and half-insensible.
Frightened at the consequences of his act, Andrew sprung to the side of the fallen lad and tried to raise him up.

Failing in this he ran for the teacher, who was in the school-room.

A little cold water thrown into the boy's face revived him, when he went home to his parents.