ter part of them sympathized with Jack, there were some who took
sides with Herring and one of these now ejaculated:

"Ha! if he wants to fight let him go at it fair. Get a ring and----"

"Young ge'men," said the negro coachman, pushing forward and throwing
aside the boys who were rushing at Jack, "Ah beg of yo' to remembah dat
dis am against de rules and dat you will be severely chastised if not
punished for dis."

Herring picked himself up, brushed his clothes hastily and cried in
angry tones:

"You will have to give me satisfaction for that, Sheldon. You called me
a liar and you struck me without provocation. I don't stand for anything
like that I can tell you and----"

"What is this?" a newcomer said and the boys suddenly found the drill
master among them. "A fight? I shall have something to say about that.
Disperse at once and proceed to the drill ground."

"Sheldon called me a liar and struck me!" blustered Herring. "I am not
going to have----"

"We will hear this case later," said Colonel Bull, severely. "Do as I
command or I shall put you all under arrest."

Some of the boys smiled at the idea of putting the whole school under
arrest but they all moved away and were shortly in regular formation
going through their customary morning exercises.

After drill Percival went to Jack and said:

"There is some mystery here, old chap. Won't you tell me what it is?"

"Not now, Dick," answered Jack. "Some other time, perhaps, but not now.
I have no father as I told you once before."

"But you know this man that claimed----"

"Yes, but I would rather not say any more about it."

"All right, Jack, I won't urge you," and the two went together into the
main building and took their seats in the great schoolroom.

The boys had been at their tasks for some little time when the doctor
sent in for Jack to come and see him in his study.

Jack left the room and was gone some little time, returning at length
with the doctor who said:

"There is no blame attaching to this young gentleman for what has lately
happened in the neighboring town and his rank is as high now as it ever
was. I wish you to treat him with the same respect that you have always
shown him and which he richly deserves."

"H'm! that does not tell us very much," muttered Harry to Arthur who sat
next to him. "We always did like Jack but the mystery is no more clear
than it was before."

"I trust that there will be no repetition of the scene of thi