"Whoa, I say! Whoa there!" spluttered Job Haskers. "Whoa!" and he tried to regain his feet, only to plunge down once more, this time on his face. Then he let go the reins and the horse trotted off, coming to a halt near the campus gateway.
If ever there was an angry man that individual was Job Haskers. He had intended to make an evening call on some ladies, and had spent considerable time over his toilet. Now his beautiful expanse of white shirt front was wet and mussed up and he had a goodly quantity of snow down his back.
"Who did this? Who did this?" he cried, dancing around in his rage. "Oh, if I only catch the boy who did this, I will punish him well for it."
He looked around sharply, and at that moment a student chanced to come around the corner of the Hall, on the way to the gymnasium building. Job Haskers leaped towards him and caught him roughly by the shoulder.
"Ha! I have you, you young imp!" he cried. "How dare you do such a thing to me! How dare you!" And he shook the boy as a dog shakes a rat.
"St--top!" spluttered the pupil, in consternation and alarm. "Stop, I say! I--I---- Oh, Mr. Haskers, let up, please! Don't shake me to pieces!"
"Well, I never!" whispered Dave to Phil and Roger.
"Oh my! but he's catching it right enough," chuckled the senator's son.
"Will unharness my horse!" went on Job Haskers. "Will throw me on my head in the snow! Oh, you imp!" And he continued to shake poor Nat until the latter's teeth rattled.
"I--I won't stand this!" cried Nat at last, and struck out blindly, landing a blow on the teacher's ear.
"Ha! so you dare to strike me!" spluttered Job Haskers. "I--I----"
"Let go! I haven't done anything!" roared Nat. "Let go, or I'll kick!"
Now, the assistant teacher did not fancy being kicked, so he dropped his hold and Nat Poole speedily retreated to a safe distance.
"You unharnessed my horse----" began Job Haskers.
"I never touched your horse--I don't know anything about your horse," exploded Nat.
"I just came from the library. I left a pair of skates in the gym., and I was going to get them. I've been in the library for half an hour," went on the dude of the school. "It's an outrage the way you've treated me. I am going to report it to Doctor Clay." And he started for the front door of the school.