Part 20 (1/2)
”Where is Phil?” asked the senator's son.
”Went off with Ben, I think.”
”Where to?”
”I don't know.”
”It's queer how much they keep together lately; isn't it?” continued Roger.
”Oh, I don't know. Of course that affair with Haskers may have something to do with it,” answered our hero, slowly.
”I wish Haskers would leave this school, Dave.”
”Oh, it won't make much difference to us, if we graduate, whether he stays or not.”
”I know that. But, somehow, I don't think he is a good man to have here, even if he is a learned instructor. He never enters into the school spirit, as Mr. Dale does.”
”Well, we can't all be alike.”
”Would you keep him, if you were in Doctor Clay's shoes?”
”I hardly think so. Certainly not if I could find another teacher equally good.”
The boys walked on until they found themselves at the last bonfire of the line, close to where the school grounds came to an end. Here was a hedge, and beyond were the woods reaching up from the river.
”n.o.body down by this bonfire,” remarked Dave. ”Say, this is careless work,” he added. ”The wind might s.h.i.+ft and set the woods on fire.”
”I didn't think they'd start a fire so far from the others,” answered his chum.
”Let us kick it into the water,” suggested our hero, and this they started to do, when, unexpectedly, a voice hailed them, and they saw a student sitting in a tree that grew in the hedge which separated the campus from the woods.
”Let that fire alone!” the youth called, angrily.
”Why, it's Nat Poole!” exclaimed Roger, in a low voice. ”Whatever is he doing in that tree?”
”I am sure I don't know,” returned Dave.
”Is he alone?”
”He seems to be.”
”Do you hear what I say?” went on the money-lender's son. ”Leave that fire alone.”
”Did you build it?” asked Dave.
”I did, and I want you to leave it alone.”
”All right, Nat, if you say so,” answered Roger. ”We thought it had been abandoned and that it might set fire to the woods.”