"Will you say you're sorry, boy?" asked the newcomer.
"No, I won't," said the boy. "Say, help me up, mister, and I'll show you how I can give it to her. I'll do her up good if she is a girl."
"You'll do nothing of the kind," replied the young man sternly. "I'll tell you what I'll do," he went on addressing Jack; "I'll go in and unfasten the Chinaman while you finish up the boy; he deserves it, I'm convinced."
At this encouragement Jack proceeded more vigorously with her punishment of the boy who kicked and squirmed, but could not unseat his chastiser. In a few minutes the young man reappeared. "He's all right," he said nodding toward Li Hung who stood at the gate, basket on arm. "Shall we let the Chinaman have a whack at you, boy, or have you had enough? I've a mind to give you one or two myself for saying you would pitch into a girl when you know she was in the right. Here now, young lady, I reckon we'll call time. Now, get out, youngster," he gave the boy a little touch with his foot, "and if you ever get into any such trouble again when I am around I'll do the punishing myself. Get out, quick." He lifted Jack up bodily and the boy staggered to his feet, stood for a second, then as Li Hung made a lunge at him, took to his heels and was out of sight in a moment.
"Missee plitty fine gallee; plunis boy allee lite," said Li Hung with a beaming smile. "Li Hung likee lil gallee Jack." He trotted back to the house while Jack brushed from her frock the dust of the fray.
"I'm awfully glad that you came along," she said to her new acquaintance. "I didn't dare get up, you see, because I was afraid the boy would pitch into me and Li Hung couldn't get free to go tell any one."
"It was an awkward predicament," said the young man. "It seems to me you are a spunky young lady to start this thing when you didn't know how you'd get out of it."
"Oh, but I didn't think about that part; I was so mad. It was such a mean scurvy trick. I can't bear to see anybody do another so mean. It certainly was mighty low-down of that boy."
"Say," said the young man, "where are you from? Old Verginny, I'll bet a sixpence."
"Why yes, but how did you know?"