"Oh, it's you, is it, Jerry Chowden? Well, what do you want?"
"I want to get square with you," replied the bully, in an angry tone.
"And you bring two of your toadies along to help you, I suppose," said Jack, unable to keep a sneer from his voice.
"Look here!" exclaimed one of Jerry's companions. "I don't know who you are, except by name, but I'm not going to have you insult me. Jerry is a friend of mine—"
"Sorry for you," interrupted Jack cooly.
"None of your lip!" exclaimed the other strange youth.
"Jerry says he has a bone to pick with you," the one who had first addressed Jack went on. "He told us he was going to have it out with you, and invited us along. We're not going to take any part, you can rest assured of that, and there'll be fair play. But if you're afraid, why that's another matter."
"Who said I was afraid?" demanded Jack hotly.
"You seem to act so."
"I don't know that I ever did you any harm, Jerry Chowden," Jack said, more quietly, "but if you feel so why I can't help it."