that made Frank cry out.
Bernard concluded that the time for remonstrance was past. He sprang forward, and seizing Septimus in his powerful grasp, tore him from his young victim.
“I’ll pay you up for this!” shrieked Septimus, as he flung himself upon Bernard.
Bernard laid him on his back in less than a minute.
“Do you want any more?” he asked, rather contemptuously.
Just at this moment the kitten saw a favorable opportunity to escape, and ran down the trunk of the tree. As she was running away Septimus caught sight of her, and his cruel instincts were aroused. He seized a rock and flung it at her. Had it struck the kitten she would have been seriously hurt.
Bernard was fond of pets, and his soul revolted at cruelty in any form.
“I see you can’t be trusted, Septimus,” he said composedly. “Nat, come here and help secure him.”
“What shall I do?” asked Nat.
“Hold his hands.”
Nat Barclay complied with his request, and Bernard taking the cord which Septimus had used on Frank, quickly and securely tied the hands of the young tyrant.
Septimus struggled and threatened, but without effect. In less than a minute he was securely bound.
“There,” said Bernard, “you are safe for a short time.”
“Untie my hands, or I’ll get my father to flog you!” screamed Septimus.
“Perhaps you’d better,” said Nat Barclay in a low voice. He was afraid his friend would get into trouble.
“No, I won’t. Septimus needs the lesson. You needn’t worry about me. Now we’ll go to the post-office.”
The two boys kept on their way, and Septimus, his hands tied, with wrath in his heart, started for home.
Mr. Snowdon was just coming out of the front door, when to his astonished gaze was revealed his son and heir walking towards the house, with his hands close together, like a prisoner in handcuffs.
“What does all this mean?” he asked in surprise. “What have you been tying your hands for?”
“I didn’t tie my hands,” said Septimus sullenly. “Do you think I am a fool?”
“Septimus, you should not speak to your father like this. If you did not tie your hands, who did?”
“Who did? That young loafer Bernard Brooks. I want you to flog him within an inch of his life.”
“Bernard Brooks tied your hands?”
“Didn’t I say so?”
“But why did you let him do it?”
“How could I help it, when he had Nat Barclay with him?”
“So Nat Barclay was with him?”
“Yes, he was.”
“I forbade him to associate with that Barclay.”
“Much he cares for your orders. When I told him you would flog him, he laughed!”
“Oh, he laughed, did he?” said Mr. Snowdon, much incensed.
“Yes, he doesn’t care for you,” said Septimus, craftily fanning his father’s wrath.
“I’ll learn him,” said Mr. Snowdon, shaking his head vigorously. “He’ll see that I am not to be trifled with. But what did he tie your hands for?”
“Just cut the cord and I’ll tell you. It hurts like all possessed.”
Mr. Snowdon drew a jack knife from his pocket and severed the cord. Septimus breathed a sigh of relief.
“See how very red my wrists are?” he said. “Pa, do me a favor.”
“Well, what is it?”
“Keep this cord, and let me tie Bernard’s hands with it.”
“A good idea, Septimus. Now tell me what he tied your hands for \”
“For just nothing at all.”
“There must have been something.”
“Well, you see Frank Fisk’s kitten was up in a tree, and I was shying stones at it. Frank made such a fuss that I took out a cord and thought I would tie his hands just to give him a lesson. Just then those two loafers came along, and had the impudence to tell me to stop, just as if they had any authority over me. Of course I told them it was none of their business, and defied them.”
“Very proper, Septimus. You are only responsible for your conduct to me.”
“Then Bernard Brooks made a savage attack upon me, and getting Nat Barclay to hold my hands, he tied them. What do you say to that, pa?”
“What do I say? That it was a high-handed and outrageous proceeding.”
“Bully for you, pa! You express my sentiments. Now what are you goin’ to do about it?”
“I shall call the Brooks boy to account. He forgets that he is under my charge.”
“He seems to think I am under his charge. Say, pa, you won’t allow your son to be insulted and trod upon, will you?”
“No, I won’t, Septimus. For some time I have been thinking that it would be necessary to flog Bernard Brooks, and now I have made up my mind to do it.”
“Good, pa! You’ll let me see you tackle him, won’t you?”
“Yes, Septimus, I will. I can understand the gratification it will give you.”
“If you do that will pay me for what he did to me.”
“But perhaps he won’t come back,” said Mr. Snowdon in an apprehensive tone. “In that case I shall lose the quarterly sum his guardian pays me.”
“You don’t think he’ll run away?” asked Septimus.
Half an hour later this question was answered. Bernard was seen approaching the house, his manner cool and composed, while he looked neither troubled nor flurried.
CHAPTER III. BROUGHT TO BAY
When Bernard saw Septimus Snowdon and his father standing in front of the house he understood at once, from the expression of their faces, that trouble was in store for him.
“Well, sir,” said Mr. Snowdon curtly, “so you have come home at last?”
“Yes, sir. There was no letter for you.”
“Ahem! I shall have to write a letter to your guardian.”
Bernard shrugged his shoulders, but did not think it necessary to say anything, rather to the disappointment of Ezekiel, who wished to draw him out, “I find,” he said, “that
