"I thought it was a low-down trick."
"Well--a--let us say that it was not the act of a brave and generous foe. The flag--the flag, Penfield, should be used for purposes of inspiration rather than protection. However, the enemy, having placed himself under the auspices and protection of the flag which should, in any event, be una.s.sailable, I presume he marched away in safety and security?"
"Why, no--not exactly."
"Penfield, I trust that no one had the hardihood to a.s.sault the bearer of his country"s flag?"
"Grandfather, I couldn"t help it. He made me mad."
"Don"t tell me, sir, that you so far forgot yourself as to lead an attack on the colors?"
"No, I didn"t. I pitched into him alone. I had to lick him, flag or no flag."
"Penfield, I"m astounded! I wouldn"t have thought it of you. And what happened, sir?"
"Why, we clinched and went down."
"But, the flag? the flag?"
"That went down too."
Colonel Butler left his place at the fire-side and crossed over to the table where Pen sat, in order that he might look directly down on him.
"Am I to understand," he said, "that the colors of my country have been wantonly trailed in the mire of the street?"
Under the intensity of that look, and the trembling severity of that voice, Pen wilted and shrank into the depths of his cushioned chair.
He could only gasp:
"I"m afraid so, grandfather."
After that, for a full minute, there was silence in the room. When the colonel again spoke his voice was low and tremulous. It was evident that his patriotic nature had been deeply stirred.
"In what manner," he asked, "was the flag rescued and restored to its proper place?"
And Pen answered truthfully:
"I don"t know. I came away."
The boy was still sunk deep in his chair, his hands were desperately clutching the arms of it, and on his pale face the wounds and bruises stood out startlingly distinct.
In the colonel"s breast grief and indignation were rapidly giving way to wrath.
"And so," he added, his voice rising with every word, "you added insult to injury; and having forced the nation"s banner to the earth, you deliberately turned your back on it and came away?"
Pen did not answer. He could not.
"I say," repeated the colonel, "you deliberately turned your back on it, and came away?"
"Yes, sir."
Colonel Butler crossed back to the fire-place, and then he strode into the hall. He put on his hat and was struggling into his overcoat when his daughter came in from the dining-room and discovered him.
"Why, father!" she exclaimed, "where are you going?"
"I am going," he replied, "to perform a patriotic duty."
"Oh, don"t go out again to-night," she pleaded. "You"ve had a hard trip to-day, and you"re tired. Let Pen do your errand. Pen, come here!"
The boy came at her bidding. The colonel paused to consider.
"On second thought," he said, finally, "it may be better that I should not go in person. Penfield, you will go at once, wherever it may be necessary, and inquire as to the present condition and location of the American flag belonging to the Chestnut Hill school, and return and report to me."
"Yes, sir."
Pen put on his hat and coat, took his umbrella, and went out into the rain. Six blocks away he stopped at Elmer Cuddeback"s door and rang the bell. Elmer himself came in answer to the ring.
"Come out on the porch a minute," said Pen. "I want to speak to you."
Elmer came out and closed the door behind him.
"Tell me," continued Pen, "what became of the flag this afternoon, after I left."
"Oh, we picked it up and carried it into the school-house. Why?"
"My grandfather wants to know."
"Well, you can tell him it isn"t hurt much. It got tore a little bit in one corner; and it had some dirt on it. But we cleaned her up, and dried her out, and put her back in her place."
"Thank you for doing it."
"Oh, that"s all right. But, say, Pen, I"m sorry for you."
"Why?"
"On account of what happened."
"Did I hurt Aleck much?"
A sudden fear of worse things had entered Pen"s mind.
"No, not much. He limped home by himself."
"Then, what is it?"
Pen knew, well enough, what it was; but he could not do otherwise than ask.
"Why, it"s because of what you did to the flag. Everybody"s talking about it."