Don turned to the captain of the eleven.
“You may choose between us, Sterndale!” he cried. “I belong in Rockspur, I am one of the village fellows, and this chap is an outsider. I don’t believe he really cares a rap whether Rockspur has a winning team or not. He simply likes to show off what he knows, or what he pretends to know. If he took a notion, I’ll bet he’d throw a game to Highland in a minute, and I——”
Renwood sprang down from the table and seemed on the point of striking the insulting speaker; but, with a curl of his scornful lips, Don folded his arms, saying:
“Strike! You are safe, for you know I can’t hit you back, having promised your sister that I would not fight with you. Strike!”
Dolph’s fist fell at his side.
“Take back your promise!” he panted. “I demand it! You have insulted me, and you must give me satisfaction!”
With a show of contempt, Don half-turned his back on the quivering city youth.
“I’ve had my say,” he declared. “You may take your time to think it over, Sterndale.”
Then he walked out of the room, and they heard him descend the stairs.
For some moments all in the room seemed to remain motionless and breathless. Dennis Murphy broke the silence.