andtherehewouldsitwatchingtheschooldoor，andspeculatingonthepossibilityofturningtheelmintoadwelling-placeforhimselfandfriends，afterthemanneroftheSwissFamilyRobinson。ButtheschoolhourswerelongandTom’spatienceshort，sothathesoonbegantodescendintothestreet，andgoandpeepinattheschooldoorandthewheelwright’sshop，andlookoutforsomethingtowhileawaythetime。Nowthewheelwrightwasacholericman，andonefineafternoon，returningfromashortabsence，foundTomoccupiedwithoneofhispetadzes，theedgeofwhichwasfastvanishingunderourhero’scare。AspeedyflightsavedTomfromallbutonesoundcuffontheears；butheresentedthisunjustifiableinterruptionofhisfirstessaysatcarpentering，andstillmorethefurtherproceedingsofthewheelwright，whocutaswitch，andhungitoverthedoorofhisworkshop，threateningtouseituponTomifhecamewithintwentyyardsofhisgate。SoTom，toretaliate，commencedawarupontheswallowswhodweltunderthewheelwright’seaves，whomheharassedwithsticksandstones；
andbeingfleeteroffootthanhisenemy，escapedallpunishment，andkepthiminperpetualanger。Moreover，hispresenceabouttheschooldoorbegantoincensethemaster，astheboysinthatneighbourhoodneglectedtheirlessonsinconsequence；andmorethanonceheissuedintotheporch，rodinhand，justasTombeatahastyretreat。Andheandthewheelwright，layingtheirheadstogether，resolvedtoacquainttheSquirewithTom’safternoonoccupations；butinordertodoitwitheffect，determinedtotakehimcaptiveandleadhimawaytojudgmentfreshfromhisevildoings。Thistheywouldhavefoundsomedifficultyindoing，hadTomcontinuedthewarsingle-handed，orrathersingle-footed，forhewouldhavetakentothedeepestpartofPebblyBrooktoescapethem；but，likeotheractivepowers，hewasruinedbyhisalliances。PoorJacobDoodle-calfcouldnotgototheschoolwiththeotherboys，andonefineafternoon，aboutthreeo’clocktheschoolbrokeupatfour，Tomfoundhimamblingaboutthestreet，andpressedhimintoavisittotheschool-porch。Jacob，alwaysreadytodowhathewasasked，consented，andthetwostoledowntotheschooltogether。Tomfirstreconnoitredthewheelwright’sshop；
andseeingnosignsofactivity，thoughtallsafeinthatquarter，andorderedatonceanadvanceofallhistroopsupontheschoolporch。Thedooroftheschoolwasajar，andtheboysseatedonthenearestbenchatoncerecognizedandopenedacorrespondencewiththeinvaders。Tom，waxingbold，keptputtinghisheadintotheschoolandmakingfacesatthemasterwhenhisbackwasturned。PoorJacob，notintheleastcomprehendingthesituation，andinhighgleeatfindinghimselfsoneartheschool，whichhehadneverbeenallowedtoenter，suddenly，inafitofenthusiasm，pushedbyTom，andamblingthreestepsintotheschool，stoodthere，lookingroundhimandnoddingwithaself-approvingsmile。Themaster，whowasstoopingoveraboy’sslate，withhisbacktothedoor，becameawareofsomethingunusual，andturnedquicklyround。TomrushedatJacob，andbegandragginghimbackbyhissmock-frock，andthemastermadeatthem，scatteringformsandboysinhiscareer。Evennowtheymighthaveescaped，butthatintheporch，barringretreat，appearedthecraftywheelwright，whohadbeenwatchingalltheirproceedings。Sotheywereseized，theschooldismissed，andTomandJacobledawaytoSquireBrownaslawfulprize，theboysfollowingtothegateingroups，andspeculatingontheresult。
TheSquirewasveryangryatfirst，buttheinterview，byTom’spleading，endedinacompromise。Tomwasnottogoneartheschooltillthreeo’clock，andonlythenifhehaddonehisownlessonswell，inwhichcasehewastobethebearerofanotetothemasterfromSquireBrown；andthemasteragreedinsuchcasetoreleasetenortwelveofthebestboysanhourbeforethetimeofbreakingup，togooffandplayintheclose。Thewheelwright’sadzesandswallowsweretobeforeverrespected；
andthatheroandthemasterwithdrewtotheservants’halltodrinktheSquire’shealth，wellsatisfiedwiththeirday’swork。