to him and patted him on the back.

"'Take it easy,' said he; 'what is it you wish to say?'

"Little L still kept on sobbing.

"'If--he is shown up--' he then broke out at long intervals--'he will be
dismissed from the corps--and then what will become of him?'

"There was silence everywhere; we knew that the young one was perfectly
right, and that such would be the consequence if we reported him. Added
to this we also knew that the father was poor, and involuntarily each
thought of what his own father would say if he should learn the same of
his son.

"'But you must see yourself/ continued the cadet to Little L, 'that your
brother has done a very contemptible thing and deserves punishment for
it.'

"Little L nodded silently; his feelings were entirely with those who
were censuring his brother. The cadet reflected a moment, then he turned
to the others.

"'I make a proposition,' said he; 'and if it be accepted we will not
disgrace L No. I for life. We will prove on his body whether he has any
honorable feelings left. L No. I. himself shall choose whether he wishes
us to report him or whether we shall keep the matter to ourselves cudgel
him thoroughly for it, and then let the affair be buried.'

"That was an admirable way out. All agreed eagerly.

"The cadet laid his hand on Little L's shoulder. 'Go along, then,' said
he, 'and call your brother here.'

"Little L dried his tears and nodded his head quickly--then he was out
of the door and a moment after was back again, bringing his brother with
him.

"Big L ventured to look at no one; like an ox that has been felled on
the forehead, he stood before his comrades. Little L stood behind him,
and never once did his eyes leave his brother's slightest movement.

"The cadet who had made the foregoing proposition began the trial of L
No. I.

"'Does he admit that he took the belt?'

"'He admits it.'

"'Does he feel that he has done something that has made him absolutely
unworthy of being a cadet any longer?'

"'He feels it.'

"'Does he choose that we report him to the captain or that we thrash him
soundly and that the matter shall then be buried?'

"'He prefers to be soundly thrashed.'

"A sigh of relief went through the whole hall.

"It was determined to finish the matter at once then and there.

"One of the boys was sent out to fetch a rattan, such as we used for
beating our clothes.

"While he was gone we tried to induce Little L to leave the hall, s