That afternoon, Mr. Ball had the satisfaction of using his new beech switches on both Riley and Pewee, though indeed Pewee did not deserve to be punished for not getting his lesson. It was Nature’s doing that his head, like a goat’s, was made for butting and not for thinking.
But if he had to take whippings from the master and his father, he made it a rule to get satisfaction out of somebody else. If Jack had helped him he wouldn’t have missed. If he had not missed his lesson badly, Mr. Ball would not have whipped him. It would be inconvenient to whip Mr. Ball in return, but Jack would be easy to manage, and as somebody must be whipped, it fell to Jack’s lot to take it.
King Pewee did not fall upon his victim at the school-house door; this would have insured him another beating from the master. Nor did he attack Jack while Bob Holliday was with him. Bob was big and strong—a great fellow of sixteen. But after Jack had passed the gate of Bob’s house, and was walking on toward home alone, Pewee came out from behind an alley fence, accompanied by Ben Berry and Will Riley.
“I’m going to settle with you now,” said King Pewee, sidling up to Jack like an angry bull-dog.
It was not a bright prospect for Jack, and he cast about him for a chance to escape a brutal encounter with such a bully, and yet avoid actually running away.
“Well,” said Jack, “if I must fight, I must. But I suppose you won’t let Riley and Berry help you.”
“No, I’ll fight fair.” And Pewee threw off his coat, while Jack did the same.
“You’ll quit when I say ‘enough,’ won’t you?” said Jack.
“Yes, I’ll fight fair, and hold up when you’ve got enough.”
“Well, then, for that matter, I’ve got enough now. I’ll take the will for the deed and just say ‘enough’ before you begin,” and he turned to pick up his coat.