bein' jugged jest 'cause of him," Bill replied,
quietly. "Instead of fightin', Dan jest shoved him inside the
post-office quick-like an' I let him have a couple of mighty good clips
alongside the head. When he yelled, we lit out an' come up here. If it
hadn't been that you're tryin' so hard to get into the Department, we
might er had a row with the duffer; but seein's anythin' of the kind
would give you a black eye, we kept quiet."

Dan and Master Dean both appeared to think they deserved praise for
having been so cautious, and Seth did not believe it would be wise to
reproach them for what had been done.

After this affair there was nothing out of the ordinary in Seth's life
for ten days or more, except during the two Saturday nights he slept at
Ninety-four's house, where on each occasion it was his good fortune to
go out with the engine.

At headquarters Mr. Fernald pushed him along in the drill as rapidly as
possible, and he was allowed to devote considerably more than two hours
each day to the lessons.

At school he made as much advancement as could have been expected, and
really came to look forward with pleasure upon his tasks there, for
'Lish Davis's remark as to the value of an education had not been
forgotten.

Then came the day when he was summoned from the yard where he had been
taking part in a drill with ladders, to meet a stranger who handed him a
printed document, the meaning of which he failed to understand until Mr.
Fernald explained that it was a subpoena, or, in other words, a command
for him to appear in court on the following morning to give evidence in
the case of the State _vs._ Jipson Collins.

The officer who brought the summons stated that he had served a similar
document upon Dan Roberts a few hours previous, and cautioned Seth
against failing to obey.

"I reckon they'll have to get along without me, 'cause I can't leave
here," he replied, as if believing such an excuse must be accepted by
any fair-minded judge.

Then it was Mr. Fernald explained the nature of a subpoena, and Seth
was decidedly surprised at learning that he could, and probably would,
be arrested if he refused to obey.

"There is no need of your coming here at all to-morrow," the old man
said, "no matter how early you may get out of court. You're needing a
holiday, lad, and I'm glad of an excuse for giving you one."

Not until he returned from school that evening did Seth see his
roommates, and then he found them