"Bow-wow! wow-wow!" It was the voice of an imprisoned puppy, and the school giggled and then roared.

Then everything was quiet.
The scholars expected an outburst of wrath from the teacher.

For they had come to regard the whole world as divided into two classes, the teacher on the one side representing lawful authority, and the pupils on the other in a state of chronic rebellion.

To play a trick on the master was an evidence of spirit; to "lick" the master was to be the crowned hero of Flat Creek district.

Such a hero was Bud Means; and Bill, who had less muscle, saw a chance to distinguish himself on a teacher of slender frame.