“A man who defends the weak,” said Tommy proudly.  The teacher nodded.

“You are both right,” said he; “and I hope from this out to have not one, but a whole roomful of heroes.”

When the breaking-up of school aroused Master Sunshine, he rubbed his eyes open and stared about wonderingly.  He could not think what had made him do such a silly thing as to go to sleep in school.

The boys crowded around him as he said good-by to Mr. Sinclair and started for home.  Tommy grabbed his books, another lad gave him a little penknife with a tortoise-shell handle, and a third offered him a great, shiny, winter apple.

These delicate attentions were so unexpected that Master Sunshine was quite bewildered, and he was even more puzzled and perhaps a little frightened, when Dick caught him up upon his shoulder, and carried him home in state.

It was all so new and so unexpected, and he was so tired, that he did not ask why it was that the boys, led by Mr. Sinclair, gave three rousing cheers for the “hero of Hill-top school” just as he and his bearer went out of the school gate.

He half dozed again, even on his high perch; and it was not until the shrill voices of the Wanderer and his Wife warned him, that he realized that he was home at last and that another rainstorm was drawing near.

CHAPTER VI.

Kind deeds.

On Friday afternoons Mr. Sinclair usually gave his pupils a very pleasant hour just before closing.  Of late he had been reading aloud “Beautiful Joe,” and all had been interested in the story of the intelligent dog.

Tommy Dane listened intently to every word, and was quick to put in practice every kind suggestion; while Master Sunshine smiled his approval of the familiar tale, for his own copy of the book was much thumbed from constant reading.  He felt very happy to think that so many boys who had pets were learning how to take care of them properly.  But he was quite as surprised as the rest of the lads when, at the close of the reading that week, Mr. Sinclair leaned over his desk and said, “Boys, I am not going to read to you next Friday afternoon.”

A little murmur of disappointment ran around the room.  “Instead,” he continued, smiling down at their troubled faces, “I want you to entertain me.  The book we have been reading teaches us kindness to animals, and I should like to hear from each one of you of some thoughtful act that has made the lives of the dependent creatures about you a little happier.”

“I know plenty of people who drive their horses too hard, and half starve them into the bargain,” interrupted one of the boys.

Mr. Sinclair raised his hand.  “I am sorry to say that I know of a few such people myself,” he answered; “but we are not talking about them now.  There are many people who are kind to their four-legged servants and pets, and I want you to learn by their example.  Each one is to tell in his own words of some kind deed that he has a personal knowledge of, and after that we will see what is to be done.”