"Not a bit," said Ralph, wondering at his own courage.

They walked on in silence a minute. Bud was turning the matter over.

"Why a'n't you afraid of me?" he said presently.

"Because you and I are going to be friends."

"And what about t'others?"

"I am not afraid of all the other boys put together."

"You a'n't! The mischief! How's that?"

"Well, I'm not afraid of them because you and I are going to be friends,
and you can whip all of them together. You'll do the fighting and I'll
do the teaching."

The diplomatic Bud only chuckled a little at this; whether he assented
to the alliance or not Ralph could not tell.

When Ralph looked round on the faces of the scholars--the little faces
full of mischief and curiosity, the big faces full of an expression
which was not further removed than second-cousin from contempt--when
when young Hartsook looked into these faces, his heart palpitated with
stage-fright. There is no audience so hard to face as one of
school-children, as many a man has found to his cost. Perhaps it is that
no conventional restraint can keep down their laughter when you do or
say anything ridiculous.