"Tom, you let him alone."

     "I only just want to stir him up a little, Joe."

     "No, sir, it ain't fair; you just let him alone."

     "Blame it, I ain't going to stir him much."

     "Let him alone, I tell you."

     "I won't!"

     "You shall--he's on my side of the line."

     "Look here, Joe Harper, whose is that tick?"

     "I don't care whose tick he is--he's on my side of the line, and you sha'n't touch him."

     "Well, I'll just bet I will, though. He's my tick and I'll do what I blame please with him, or die!"

     A tremendous whack came down on Tom's shoulders, and its duplicate on Joe's; and for the space of two minutes the dust continued to fly from the two jackets and the whole school to enjoy it. The boys had been too absorbed to notice the hush that had stolen upon the school awhile before when the master came tiptoeing down the room and stood over them. He had contemplated a good part of the performance before he contributed his bit of variety to it.