The boys yelled:
“A fight! a fight! Smash him, Jim! Knock his eye out!”
Jim expectorated on his hands.
“Dat’s jest w’ot I’ll do!” he vowed. “I’ll fit der kid fer der hospital!”
Old Joe looked on without moving, but his hand sought the haft of a hidden knife, while his lips murmured:
“I kill him, Dick! Cut him heart out!”
“No!” breathed the lad. “Don’t do it, Joe! He’ll not hurt me much. Don’t be afraid.”
The young thug advanced on Dick, who immediately moved aside to the left, beginning circling round him.
“Look at der kid!” cried the boys, in derision. “He t’inks he’s a fighter! Jim’ll knock der eye outer him in less’n t’ree seconds! T’ump him, Jim!”
The bully fancied Dick was frightened, and he tried to close in quickly. Then the boy ducked and gave his adversary a body-blow that made the big rough gasp.