On Time by Oliver Optic — Read

I was not quite willing to believe that the four stout fellows in the vicinity of the kettle really intended to "tar and feather" Waddie Wimpleton. In the first place, it was astounding that any one on the Centreport side of the lake should have the audacity to conceive such an outrage upon the sacred person of the magnate's only son. Why, the people generally held the great man in about the same reverence as the people of England hold their queen. The idea of committing any indignity upon his person, or upon the persons of any of his family, seemed too monstrous to be entertained.

I judged that the scene before me was the sequel to the incident of which Dick Bayard had told me. But the actors were Centreporters, and it was amazing to think that even four boys in the whole town could actually undertake to revenge themselves upon Mr. Waddie. All that I had done in my quarrel with him was in self-defense, and the scene transpiring before me was quite incomprehensible.