hereafter, deeming that the loss of this
morning's recess is punishment enough for boys who can be so manly in
their acknowledgments. Peter Rose, William Riley, and Benjamin Berry
will remain in school at both recesses and for a half-hour after school
every day for three days--not only for having forgotten their duty, but
for having refused to make acknowledgment or apology."

Going home that evening, half an hour after all the others had been
dismissed, the triplets put all their griefs together, and resolved to
be avenged on Mr. Williams at the first convenient opportunity.

CHAPTER XXV

KING'S BASE AND A SPELLING-LESSON

As the three who usually gave the most trouble on the playground, as
well as in school, were now in detention at every recess, the boys
enjoyed greatly their play during these three days.

It was at this time that they began to play that favorite game of
Greenbank, which seems to be unknown almost everywhere else. It is
called "king's base," and is full of all manner of complex happenings,
sudden surprises, and amusing results.

Each of the boys selected a base or goal. A row of sidewalk trees were
favorite bases. There were just as many bases as boys. Some boy would
venture out from his base. Then another would pursue him; a third would
chase the two, and so it would go, the one who left his base latest
having the right to catch.

Just as Johnny Meline was about to lay hold on Jack, Sam Crashaw, having
just left _his_ base, gave chase to Johnny, and just as Sam thought he
had a good chance to catch Johnny, up came Jack, fresh from having
touched his base, and nabbed Sam. When one has caught another, he has a
right to return to his base with his prisoner, unmolested. The prisoner
now becomes an active champion of the new base, and so the game goes on
until all the bases are broken up but one. Very often the last boy on a
base succeeds in breaking up a strong one, and, indeed, there is no end
to the curious results attained in the play.

Jack had never got on in his studies as at this time. Mr. Williams took
every opportunity to show his liking for his young friend, and Jack's
quickened ambition soon put him at the head of his classes. It was a
rule that the one who stood at the head of the great spelling-class on
Friday evenings should go to the foot on Monday, and so work his way up
again. There was a great strife between Sarah Weathervane and Jack to
see which should go to the foot