By this time Sam was staggering to his feet. He rushed at Nick Jasniff and sent him backward into the bushes.
"You will hit me with your stick!" he exclaimed. "Thank you, Dave, for what you did, but I can take my own part." And he stood over Jasniff with clenched fists.
"Two to one, eh?" sneered Jasniff, as he got up slowly. "That's fighting fair, ain't it?"
"It is fairer than hitting a fellow with a stick," retorted Sam. "But I can fight you alone, if you want to fight."
"I'll not soil my hands on you further," grumbled Nick Jasniff, and backing away, he walked off towards the school at a rapid pace.
"The coward!" murmured Sam, as he and Dave watched the departure.
"Do you know, Sam, I don't like that fellow at all," said Dave. "I've said so before. He's a bad egg if ever there was one."
"I believe you. Cadfield told me that there was a report in the town Jasniff came from that he had once set fire to a farmer's barn because the farmer caught him stealing peaches, but the whole matter was hushed up."
"He doesn't appear to be any too good to set fire to a barn. We'll have to keep our eyes open for him after this."
"I certainly shall. I don't want to be struck down with a stick again," answered Sam.