And again the eyes of Bud Means looked out sharply from his shadowing brows to see the effect of this speech on the slender young man.
"You won't thrash me, though," said Ralph.
"Pshaw! I 'low I could whip you in an inch of your life with my left hand, and never half try," said young Means, with a threatening sneer.
"I know that as well as you do."
"Well, a'n't you afraid of me, then?" and again he looked sidewise at Ralph.
"Not a bit," said Ralph, wondering at his own courage.
They walked on in silence a minute. Bud was turning the matter over.
"Why a'n't you afraid of me?" he said presently.
"Because you and I are going to be friends."
"And what about t'others?"