' That takes all the talk out of the
teacher. He just sets there wrappin' his legs round the chair and
glarin'. Ernest's voice rings clear above the school now, like the
Declaration of Independence. 'In Turkey Walley, teacher,' he says,
'five times eleven apples is sixty-five. They raises bigger apples
there.'
"Leander's legs unsprung. He ketched Ernest by the hair and lifted him
to the platform. Boys, you otter 'a' seen it. It was David and
Goliath all over agin, only fightin' fair. Havin' Leander holdin' his
hair give the boy an advantage--it was two hands agin one. Leander had
but the one to operate his stick with, while Ernest was drivin' both
fists right into the darkness in front of him. The stick was making no
impression, and some of the small boys that didn't know no better begin
to cheer. Boys, you otter 'a' been there. You'd have enjoyed it,
Henery. Leander seen what he needed was tactics, and his regular
tactics was to hold the scholar at arm's length by the hair. He tried
it and it didn't work.
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