they's lots of ways of killing a cat besides chokin'
her with butter. He'll come in--_ef_ he don't blow us all sky-high!"

Ralph's voice was now heard, demanding that the door be opened.

"Let's open her," said Hank, turning livid with fear at the firm,
confident tone of the master.

Bud straightened himself up. "Hank, you're a coward. I've got a mind to
kick you. You got me into this blamed mess, and now you want to
craw-fish. You jest tech one of these 'ere fastenings, and I'll lay you
out flat of your back afore you can say Jack Robinson."

The teacher was climbing to the roof with the board in hand.

"That air won't win," laughed Pete Jones outside. He saw that there was
no smoke. Even Bud began to hope that Ralph would fail for once. The
master was now on the ridge-pole of the school-house. He took a paper
from his pocket, and deliberately poured the contents down the chimney.

Mr. Pete Jones shouted "Gunpowder!" and set off down the road to be out
of the way of the explosion. Dr. Small remembered, probably, that his
patient might die while he sat here, and started on.

But Ralph emptied the paper, and laid the board over the chimney. What a
row there was inside! The benches that were braced against the door were
thrown down, and Hank Banta rushed out, rubbing his eyes, coughing
frantically, and sure that he had been blown up. All the rest followed,
Bud bringing up the rear sulkily, but coughing and sneezing for dear
life. Such a smell of sulphur as came from that school-house!

Betsey had to lean against the fence to giggle.

[Illustration: FIRE AND BRIMSTONE]

As soon as all were out, Ralph threw the board off the chimney, leaped
to the ground, entered the school-house, and opened the windows. The
school soon followed him, and all was still.

"Would he thrash?" This was the important question in Hank Banta's mind.
And the rest looked for a battle with Bud.

"It is just nine o'clock," said Ralph, consulting his watch, "and I'm
glad to see you all here promptly. I should have given you a holiday if
you had asked me like gentlemen yesterday. On the whole, I think I shall
give you a holiday, anyhow. The school is dismissed."

And Hank felt foolish.

And Bud secretly resolved to thrash Hank or the master, he didn't care
which.

And Mirandy looked the love she could not utter.

And Betsey giggled.

CHAPTER XIV.

A CRISIS WITH BUD.

Ralph sat still at his desk. The school had gone. All at