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 once he became conscious that Shocky sat yet in his accustomed place upon the hard, backless bench.

“Why, Shocky, haven’t you gone yet?”

“No—­sir—­I was waitin’ to see if you warn’t a-goin’, too—­I—­”

“Well?”

“I thought it would make me feel as if God warn’t quite so fur away to talk to you.  It did the other day.”

The master rose and put his hand on Shocky’s head.  Was it the brotherhood in affliction that made Shocky’s words choke him so?  Or, was it the weird thoughts that he expressed?  Or, was it the recollection that Shocky was Hannah’s brother?  Hannah so far, far away from him now!  At any rate, Shocky, looking up for the smile on which he fed, saw the relaxing of the master’s face, that had been as hard as stone, and felt just one hot tear on his hand.

“P’r’aps God’s forgot you, too,” said Shocky in a sort of half soliloquy.  “Better get away from Flat Creek.  You see God forgets everybody down here.  ’Cause ’most everybody forgets God, ’cept Mr. Bosaw, and I ’low God don’t no ways keer to be remembered by sich as him.  Leastways I wouldn’t if I was God, you know.  I wonder what becomes of folks when God forgets ’em?” And Shocky, seeing that the master had resumed his seat and was looking absently into the fire, moved slowly out the door.