He was a bully, always ready to torment some one smaller than himself.
He had reason to be provoked with Floretta, and the fact that she was only a little girl, made no impression upon him.
He would as willingly punish a girl, as a boy, and the fact that his captive was smaller than he, only proved that the task would be an easy one.
"You think it's smart to imitate, and it is. P'raps you think you're the echo that's over in the mountain!" he sneered.
She made no answer. She was crying now.
"Say! Let her off!" cried Jack Tiverton. "She's only a girl!"
The smallest boy in the crowd, he saw Sidney's cowardice.
"Oh, are you sweet on Floretta?" jeered Sidney.
Jack drew back abashed. He did not like Floretta at all, but he did think it mean for a big boy to frighten so small a girl.
"I ain't going to hurt you," said Sidney, "but I'm going to give you a chance to play echo, till you're tired of it. I guess you'll get enough of it before you get through!