"That seems almost incredible," replied Chief Coy. "But I"ll come on the run with some of my men."
Several of the fellows made a move to follow the princ.i.p.al out into the corridor. d.i.c.k Prescott swung the door shut and threw himself against it. Dave Darrin and Tom Reade rushed to his support.
The other chums got to him as quickly as they could.
"Nothing rash, fellows!" urged d.i.c.k. "Remember, we don"t make the laws, or execute them. This business will be settled more to our satisfaction if we don"t put ourselves in the wrong."
"Pull that fellow Prescott away from the door!" called Fred Ripley, anxious to start any kind of trouble against d.i.c.k & Co. Submaster Drake, forcing his way through the throng, calming the hottest-headed ones, turned an accusing look on Fred. The latter saw it and slunk back into the crowd.
Bristow, still holding his handkerchief to his head, darted out of the building.
Submaster Morton and Luce, bearing the excitement, came up from cla.s.s rooms on the ground floor. They entered by the same door through which Bristow had left.
Over on the other side of the room, fearing that a violent riot was about to start, some of the girls began to scream. The women teachers present hurried among the girls, quieting them by rea.s.suring words.
"Now, young gentlemen," called Mr. Drake, "we"ll consider all this rumpus done with. Discipline reigns and Gridley"s good name must be preserved!"
This brought a cheer from many, for Mr. Drake was genuinely respected by the boys as a good and fair-minded man. Such men as Drake, Morton or Luce could lead these warm-hearted boys anywhere.
Stepping quickly back to the platform, Drake sounded the bell.
In an instant there was an orderly movement toward the desks.
At the second bell all were seated.
"In the absence of the princ.i.p.al," began Mr. Drake, "I-----"
A low-voiced laugh started in some quarters of the room.
"Silence!" insisted Mr. Drake, with dignity. "School has opened.
I-----"
He was interrupted by a new note. Out in the yard sounded the clanging of a bell, the quick trot of horses" feet and the roll of wheels. The boys looked at one another in unbelieving astonishment.
Then heavy steps sounded on the stairway. Outside Mr. Cantwell"s voice could be heard:
"I"ll take you inside, chief!"
In came the princ.i.p.al, his face now white from dread of what he had done, instead of showing the white-heat of pa.s.sion. After him came Chief Coy and three policemen in uniform.
For at least a full half minute Chief Coy stood glancing around the room, where every student was in his seat and all was orderly.
The boys returned the chief"s look with wondering eyes.
Then Mr. Coy spoke:
"Where"s your riot, princ.i.p.al? Is this what you termed a mutiny?"
Mr. Cantwell, who had gone to his post behind the desk, appeared to find difficulty in answering.
"Humph!" muttered the chief, and, turning, strode from the room.
His three policemen followed.
Then there came indeed an awkward silence.
Submaster Drake had abandoned the center of the stage to the princ.i.p.al.
Mr. Cantwell found himself at some loss for words. But at last he began:
"Young ladies and young gentlemen, I cannot begin to tell you how much I regret the occurrences of this morning. Discipline is one of my greatest ideals, and this morning"s mutiny-----"
He felt obliged to pause there, for an angry murmur started on the boys" side, and traveled over to where the girls were seated:
"This morning"s mutiny-----" began the princ.i.p.al again.
The murmur grew louder. Mr. Cantwell looked up, more of fear than of anger in his eyes. Mr. Drake, who stood behind the princ.i.p.al, held up one hand appealingly. It was that gesture which saved the situation at that critical moment. The boys thought that if silence would please Mr. Drake, then he might have it.
"Pardon me, sir," whispered Drake in Cantwell"s ear. "I wouldn"t harp on the word mutiny, sir. Express your regret for the injury unintentionally done Bristow."
Mr. Cantwell wheeled abruptly.
"Who is princ.i.p.al here, Mr. Drake?"
"You are, sir."
"Then be good enough to let me finish my remarks."
This dialogue was spoken in an undertone, but the students guessed some inkling of its substance.
The submaster subsided, but Mr. Cantwell couldn"t seem to remember, just then, what he wanted to say. So he stood gazing about the room. In doing this he caught sight of the face of Purcell.
"Mr. Purcell!" called the princ.i.p.al.
That young man rose, standing by his seat. "Mr. Purcell, you made some threat to me a few minutes ago?"
"Yes, sir."
"What was that threat?"
"I told you that, if you laid hands on me, I"d floor you."
"Would you have done it?"
"At the time, yes, sir. Or I"d have tried to do so."
"That is all. The locker room monitor will go with you to the bas.e.m.e.nt. You may go for the day. When you come to-morrow morning, I will let you know what I have decided in your case."
Submaster Drake bit his lips. This was not the way to deal with a situation in which the princ.i.p.al had started the trouble. Mr.
Drake wouldn"t have handled the situation in this way, nor would Dr. Thornton, the former princ.i.p.al.
But Purcell, with cheerfulness murmured, "Very good, sir," and left the room, while many approving glances followed him.
Messrs. Morton and Luce shuffled rather uneasily in their seats.
Mr. Cantwell began to gather an idea that he was making his own bad matter worse, so he changed, making an address in which he touched but lightly upon the incidents of the morning. He made an urgent plea for discipline at all times, and tried to impress upon the student body the need for absolute self-control.