“So you’re here, are you?” asked Jerry.
“Can’t you see without having to be told?” inquired Noddy, with a surly growl. “Now you’ve seen us, you’d better go on and mind your own business.”
“I guess this is a free country, and we have as much right on this road as you have,” spoke Ned.
“You haven’t any right to follow me all the while!” burst out the former bully of Cresville.
“We wouldn’t be following you if you hadn’t fired at us and punctured the tire!” cried Bob.
“Who says I fired a shot?” demanded Noddy.
“I do!” exclaimed Ned.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” exclaimed the bully. “If you say another word I’ll lick you!”
He was mad clear through, and made a rush at Ned. Jerry sprang forward and met Noddy with a blow straight from the shoulder. The bully went down. He got up quickly, and the two boys went at each other, “hammer and tongs.” Jerry kept his head and landed twice, heavily, on Noddy. The latter gave Jerry a bad blow on the right eye, but the latter retaliated by making Noddy’s nose bleed.
As Noddy felt the warm blood trickling down his face he became frightened.