"The sneak! He’s the dirtiest fellow at Fardale!"
"I think you are right. How do you feel now?"
"Weak. I was to fight him to-night in Chadwick’s pasture. That’s why he did it. But I’ll be there—I’ll meet him if it——"
The injured lad tried to rise, but dropped back limply, for the effort had caused his head to whirl.
"Oh, the sneak!" he groaned. "He has fixed me so I can’t be on hand! The time will pass! He’ll claim I failed to appear! I can’t fight him!"
"Then," said Dick, "it will give me pleasure to take your place and meet Mr. Lynch. I think I can polish him off."
"You?"
"Yes. Why not?"
"Why should you?"
"Because you can’t do it now. Because I have a little score against him."