purpose of obtaining his revenge.

He had a vague plan in his head to guide about fifty of the roughest
boys in the village to the cave, and thus give the secret to every one,
and he fully determined to let this be his form of revenge, when, being
called upon to read in class, he was forced to use the wet, soiled
books.

His thoughts were directed so much to this subject that his lessons were
recited even worse than usual, and as a result he was kept in to study
for an hour after the close of school.

When he was at last free to go home, and left the school-house, he found
that poor old Sim was in the hands of his enemies. The Mystic Nine had
placed him in his own dilapidated hand-cart, and were wheeling him down
one of the side streets as fast as they could go, shouting and laughing
at his frenzied cries of distress and the ludicrous picture he
presented, as he clung to the side of the cart, the brim of his torn
straw hat flapping in the wind, and an old scarf of bright scarlet silk,
which he cherished as his dearest earthly possession, streaming out
behind.

Davy felt very sorry for the old man, but did not dare interfere. He
could only wait until the boys, becoming wearied of their sport, ran the
cart into a shallow pond and went off to seek other diversion.

Old Sim was almost helpless with fright and exhaustion, and when Davy
waded into the pond and pushed the cart out on dry land again, he threw
his arms about the boy's neck, and clung to him, sobbing and moaning
like a child.

It was all Davy could do to comfort and quiet him, and to persuade him
to go home, so apprehensive was he that another attack would be made on
him. But Davy finally succeeded in convincing him that there was no
further danger, and the old man went scuffling off to the miserable
shanty he called home.

The next day was Saturday, and as the weather was clear and bright, Davy
resolved to spend the whole morning in the woods. But his aunt found so
much for him to do that it was nearly noon before he was able to get
away.

As usual, he divided his lunch with the birds and squirrels, and then
lay down under a tree to read a book he had brought with him.

But it failed to interest him, and his mind persisted in dwelling upon
the unkindness with which he was so systematically treated, both at home
and at school.

"I wonder if it will ever be any different?" he thought, as he sprang to
his feet at last. "If I only could get to the head