ley stood on the floor he pretended to
enjoy it. But when recess came and went and Mr. Williams did not send
him to his seat, he began to shift from one foot to the other and from
his heels to his toes, and to change his slate from the right hand to
the left. His class was called, and after recitation he was sent back to
his place. He stood it as best he could until the noon recess, but when,
at the beginning of the afternoon session, Mr. Williams again called his
"excellent scholar" and set him up, Riley broke down and said:

"I think you might let me go now."

"Are you tired?" asked the cruel Mr. Williams.

"Yes, I am," and Riley hung his head, while the rest smiled.

"And are you ready to do what the good order of the school requires?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well; you can go."

The chopfallen Riley went back to his seat, convinced that it would not
do to rebel against the new teacher, even if he did not use the beech
switches.

But Mr. Williams was also quick to detect the willing scholar. He gave
Jack extra help on his Latin after school was out, and Jack grew very
proud of the teacher's affection for him.

CHAPTER XXII

CHASING THE FOX

All the boys in the river towns thirty years ago--and therefore the boys
in Greenbank, also--took a great interest in the steam-boats which plied
up and down the Ohio. Each had his favorite boat, and boasted of her
speed and excellence. Every one of them envied those happy fellows whose
lot it was to "run on the river" as cabin-boys. Boats were a common
topic of conversation--their build, their engines, their speed, their
officers, their mishaps, and all the incidents of their history.

So it was that from the love of steam-boats, which burned so brightly in
the bosom of the boy who lived on the banks of that great and lovely
river, there grew up the peculiar game of "boats' names." I think the
game was started at Louisville or New Albany, where the falls interrupt
navigation, and where many boats of the upper and lower rivers are
assembled.

One day, as the warm air of Indian summer in this mild climate made
itself felt, the boys assembled, on the evergreen "bluegrass," after the
snack at the noon recess, to play boats' names.

Through Jack's influence, Columbus, who did not like to play with the A
B C boys, was allowed to take the handkerchief and give out the first
name. All the rest stood up in a row like a spelling-class, while little
Columbus, standing i