Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER XIII.

HAL SHOWS HIS METTLE.

Hal understood perfectly well that a crisis had come. Hardwick had him by the throat, and unless he acceded to the book-keeper's demand he would be in immediate danger of being choked to death.

"Let--let go of me," he gasped.

"Not until you do as I say," replied Hardwick. "I want you to understand that you can't get the best of me."

Hal tried to push Hardwick away, but the book-keeper made a pass at him with the heavy ruler.

"Keep quiet, if you value your head!" roared Hardwick.

"Let me go!"

"Not until you have told me what you mean by your doings."

"What doings?"

"Your doings up to Mrs. Ricket's."

"Who told you about what happened up there?"

"Never mind; I know all about it."

"Then Ferris saw you last night."

"No, he didn't."

"Or this morning."

"Shut up. You implicated me."

"Did Dick Ferris say I did?" asked Hal.

"Never mind who said so. I want to know what you mean by such work?"

Hal did not reply. He was trying to think. What was Ferris' object in telling Hardwick he had been mentioned in connection with the matter?

Clearly there could be but one reason. Ferris knew Hardwick already disliked Hal, and he wished to put the book-keeper against the youth, so as to get Hal into more difficulties.

"Do you hear me?" demanded Hardwick, giving Hal an extra squeeze on the throat.

"I do," gulped Hal. "Let--go--of me."

"Not until you have answered."

1. What was Hardwick's occupation?
2. What was Hardwick holding?
3. What else?
4. Was he fighting back?
5. In what way?
6. Why was he being attacked?
7. Did something where?
8. Who told Hardwick about this?
9. Why?
10. Why did he want to do that?
11. Why was Hal stalling?
12. Did he answer Hardwick's questions?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. book-keeper
2. a heavy ruler
3. Hal's throat
4. yes
5. he tried to push Hardwick away
6. Hardwick thought he did something
7. at Mrs. Ricket's."
8. Possibly Ferris
9. to put the book-keeper against Hal
10. so that Hal had problems
11. He was thinking
12. not yet

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Beloved teacher Michael Landsberry, a former Marine, died a hero at Sparks Middle School in Nevada on Monday in another tragic campus shooting.

The 45-year-old was killed while trying to talk to the unidentified 12-year-old gunman, who later killed himself.

"He was telling him to stop and put the gun down," student Jose Cazares told Today on Tuesday. "Then the kid, he yelled out, 'No!' Like, he was yelling at him, and he shot him. The teacher was calm, he was holding out his hand like, 'Put the gun in my hand.' "

Students, parents and fellow teachers are calling Landsberry's actions heroic. Tom Robinson, vice chief with the Reno Police Department, also praised him, saying, "In my estimation, he is a hero. We do know he was trying to intervene (,)."

Landsberry, who went by the nickname Batman, and coached sports teams at the middle school and neighboring high school, was remembered fondly on social media by many students.

"It's just so sad knowing he left because he protected his students," one of the posts said, followed by another that read, "The sad part is this week it's his and his wife's anniversary and his daughter graduates from the military tomorrow."

CNN reports that two students who were wounded by the shooter - who used a Ruger 9 mm semi-automatic handgun - are currently in stable condition in hospital.

Authorities will not be releasing the identity of the shooter out of respect for his parents, but schoolmate Amaya Newton was shocked by his actions, calling the gunman "a really nice kid," adding, "He would make you smile when you were having a bad day."

"Everybody wants to know why the shooter opened fire," Sparks vice chief Tom Miller said at a news conference. "That's the big question. The answer is we don't know right now, but we are trying to determine why."

1. How did Michael Die?
2. Howso?
3. Where was this?
4. Was a student the shooter?
5. What kind of gun did he have?
6. What was he doing when he was killed?
7. Intervine how?
8. Was anyone else killed?
9. Was there a known motive?
10. How old was Michael?
11. Did he work at the school?
12. Doing what?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. He died a hero .
2. He was killed while trying to talk to the gunman.,
3. Sparks Middle School.
4. Yes.
5. Ruger 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.
6. Trying to intervene.
7. Telling him to stop and put the gun down.
8. No.
9. No.
10. 45.
11. Yes.
12. Coached sports teams.

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER XIV

"Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him."--JOB XL. 9.

A few moments later Licinia came running back into the room.

"Augusta!" she exclaimed excitedly even before she had crossed the threshold. "Augusta! quick! the Csar!"

Dea Flavia started, for she had indeed been suddenly awakened from a dream. Slowly, and with eyes still vague and thoughtful, she turned to her slave.

"The Csar?" she repeated, whilst a puzzled frown appeared between her brows and the young blood faded from her cheeks. "The Csar?"

"Aye," said the old woman hurriedly. "He is in the atrium even now, having just arrived, and his slaves fill the vestibule. He desires speech with thee."

"He does not often come at this hour," said Dea Flavia, whose face had become very white and set at mention of a name which indeed had the power of rousing terror in every heart just now. "Doth he seem angered?" she asked under her breath.

"No, no," said Licinia reassuringly, "how could he be angered against thee, my pet lamb? But come quickly, dear, to thy robing room; what dress wilt put on to greet the Csar in?"

"Nay, nay," she said with a tremulous little laugh, "we'll not keep my kinsman waiting. That indeed might anger him. He has been in this room before and hath liked to watch me at my work. Let him come now, an he wills."

Licinia would have protested for she loved to deck her darling out in all the finery that, to her mind, rendered the Augusta more beautiful than a goddess, but there was no time to say anything for even now the Csar's voice was heard at the further end of the atrium.

1. Who was in the atrium?
2. What did Licinia like to dress Augusta in?
3. Was the Caesar angry?
4. Where were his slaves?
5. What did Caesar want?
6. With who?
7. Why had Dea Flavia been startled?
8. Who woke her?
9. Did Dea become worried?
10. Why?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. it was the Caesar
2. in all the finery that rendered the Augusta more beautiful than a goddness
3. NO
4. In the room
5. He desired speech with thee
6. With Dea Flavia
7. she was suddenly awakened from a dream
8. Licinia
9. Yes
10. he just arrived.