Ned , who was intensely inquisitive , had been on tenterhooks to know certainly who was the culprit ; for of late one or two of the boys had begun to think that they were wrong , Nat was so steadfast in his denials , and so meek in his endurance of their neglect . This doubt had teased Ned past bearing , and he had several times privately beset Nat with questions , regardless of Mr. Bhaer 's express command . Finding Nat reading alone on the shady side of the wall , Ned could not resist stopping for a nibble at the forbidden subject . He had worried Nat for some ten minutes before Dan arrived , and the first words the spider-student heard were these , in Nat 's patient , pleading voice , `` Do n't , Ned ! oh , do n't ! I ca n't tell you because I do n't know , and it 's mean of you to keep nagging at me on the sly , when Father Bhaer told you not to plague me . You would n't dare to if Dan was round . '' `` I ai n't afraid of Dan ; he 's nothing but an old bully . Do n't believe but what he took Tom 's money , and you know it , and wo n't tell . Come , now ! '' `` He did n't , but , if he did , I would stand up for him , he has always been so good to me , '' said Nat , so earnestly that Dan forgot his spiders , and rose quickly to thank him , but Ned 's next words arrested him . `` I know Dan did it , and gave the money to you . Should n't wonder if he got his living picking pockets before he came here , for nobody knows any thing about him but you , '' said Ned , not believing his own words , but hoping to get the truth out of Nat by making him angry . He succeeded in a part of his ungenerous wish , for Nat cried out , fiercely , `` If you say that again I 'll go and tell Mr. Bhaer all about it . I do n't want to tell tales , but , by George ! I will , if you do n't let Dan alone . '' `` Then you 'll be a sneak , as well as a liar and a thief , '' began Ned , with a jeer , for Nat had borne insult to himself so meekly , the other did not believe he would dare to face the master just to stand up for Dan . What he might have added I can not tell , for the words were hardly out of his mouth when a long arm from behind took him by the collar , and , jerking him over the wall in a most promiscuous way , landed him with a splash in the middle of the brook . `` Say that again and I 'll duck you till you ca n't see ! '' cried Dan , looking like a modern Colossus of Rhodes as he stood , with a foot on either side of the narrow stream , glaring down at the discomfited youth in the water .
`` I was only in fun , '' said XXXXX .
Bhaer Dan George Nat Ned Rhodes Tom first jeer spiders