"You ought to be knocked down for throwing at Mammy Shrader."
"You can't knock me down!" growled Carl, doubling up his fists.
"A fight! a fight!" cried several boys, always ready for an affair of that sort.
There was an awkward pause. Snap did not wish to fight, and yet he wanted Dudder to understand that he was not afraid.
"I think I owe you something from last summer," said Dudder, coming closer and sticking his chin in Snap's face. "I haven't forgotten that."
"Yes, but you seem to have forgotten that we about kept you from starving to death," answered Snap calmly.
"And that's no joke," came softly from Giant.
"You keep your oar out, little one," grunted Dudder, turning to glare at Will.
"You and your crowd acted very meanly last summer and you know it,
Dudder," said Giant, not in the least abashed. "Your treatment of
Mammy Shrader is on a par with your other actions."
"Shut up!" roared the other boy, and made a quick pass at Giant's head. But the small boy dodged and the fist struck Snap on the shoulder.