me too, like
as not." And Bud soon snored again, but Hank shook with fear every time
he looked at the blackness outside the windows. He was sure he heard
foot-falls. He would have given anything to have been at home.

When morning came, the pupils began to gather early. A few boys who were
likely to prove of service in the coming siege were admitted through the
window, and then everything was made fast, and a "snack" was eaten.

"How do you 'low he'll get in?" said Hank, trying to hide his fear.

"How do I 'low?" said Bud. "I don't 'low nothin' about it. You might as
well ax me where I 'low the nex' shootin' star is a-goin' to drap. Mr.
Hartsook's mighty onsartin. But he'll git in, though, and tan your hide
fer you, you see ef he don't. _Ef_ he don't blow up the school-house
with gunpowder!" This last was thrown in by way of alleviating the fears
of the cowardly Hank, for whom Bud had a great contempt.

The time for school had almost come. The boys inside were demoralized by
waiting. They began to hope that the master had "sloped." They dreaded
to see him coming.

"I don't believe he'll come," said Hank, with a cold shiver. "It's past
school-time."

"Yes, he will come, too," said Bud. "And he 'lows to come in here mighty
quick. I don't know how. But he'll be a-standin' at that air desk when
it's nine o'clock. I'll bet a thousand dollars on that. _Ef_ he don't
take it into his head to blow us up!" Hank was now white.

Some of the parents came along, accidentally of course, and stopped to
see the fun, sure that Bud would thrash the master if he tried to break
in. Small, on the way to see a patient perhaps, reined up in front of
the door. Still no Ralph. It was just five minutes before nine. A rumor
now gained currency that he had been seen going to Clifty the evening
before, and that he had not come back, though in fact Ralph had come
back, and had slept at Squire Hawkins's.

"There's the master," cried Betsey Short, who stood out in the road
shivering and giggling alternately. For Ralph at that moment emerged
from the sugar-camp by the school-house, carrying a board.

"Ho! ho!" laughed Hank, "he thinks he'll smoke us out. I guess he'll
find us ready." The boys had let the fire burn down, and there was now
nothing but hot hickory coals on the hearth.

"I tell you he'll come in. He didn't go to Clifty fer nothing" said Bud,
who sat still on one of the benches which leaned against the door. "I
don't know how, but