or a theft, which some
said had been committed on the packet, and others declared was committed
on the wharf-boat. Francis Gray came in, and could not conceal his
chagrin.

"I meant to do the fair thing by you," he said to Jack, severely, "but
now you'll never get a cent out of me."

"I'd rather have the law on men like you, than have a thousand of your
sort of fair promises," said Jack.

"I've a mind to strike you," said Gray.

"The Kentucky law is hard on a man who strikes a minor," said Judge
Kane, who had entered at that moment.

Mr. Niles came in to learn what was the matter, and Judge Kane, after
listening quietly to the talk of the people, until the excitement
subsided, took Jack over to his house, whence the boy trudged home in
the late afternoon full of hopefulness.

Gray's land realized as much as Mr. Beal expected, and Jack studied hard
all summer, so as to get as far ahead as possible by the time school
should begin in the autumn.

CHAPTER XXI

THE NEW TEACHER

The new teacher who was employed to take the Greenbank school in the
autumn was a young man from college. Standing behind the desk hitherto
occupied by the grim-faced Mr. Ball, young Williams looked very mild by
contrast. He was evidently a gentle-spirited man as compared with the
old master, and King Pewee and his crowd were gratified in noting this
fact. They could have their own way with such a master as that! When he
called the school to order, there remained a bustle of curiosity and
mutual recognition among the children. Riley and Pewee kept up a little
noise by way of defiance. They had heard that the new master did not
intend to whip. Now he stood quietly behind his desk, and waited a few
moments in silence for the whispering group to be still. Then he slowly
raised and levelled his finger at Riley and Pewee, but still said
nothing. There was something so firm and quiet about his
motion--something that said, "I will wait all day, but you must be
still"--that the boys could not resist it.

By the time they were quiet, two of the girls had got into a titter over
something, and the forefinger was aimed at them. The silent man made the
pupils understand that he was not to be trifled with.

When at length there was quiet, he made every one lay down book or slate
and face around toward him. Then with his pointing finger, or with a
little slap of his hands together, or with a word or two at most, he got
the school still again.