They had scarcely placed themselves in position, till he was thrown. Red as a fire brick, and burning with shame,—for a great shout greeted the victory of James,—he took hold only to be again thrown. David Riggs then stepped in with the same result.
The boys then clamored to Orcutt to take his turn, but he declined. Edward Conly came in and was thrown, and after him Arthur Nevins, who threw James after a short struggle. James was now as eager to wrestle as he had been backward before, and wrestled every day till there were but two, Edward Conly and Arthur Nevins, who could throw him at arm’s length, and no one could throw him at the back. It was quite wonderful to notice the change imparted to his whole bearing by these exercises; before he was stiff and awkward in all his movements, but now he was lithe, graceful, his step was lighter and more elastic, and smiles had taken the place of the despondent look he formerly wore, insomuch that it was a matter of common remark in the neighborhood.
CHAPTER XIV.
RESENTING A BASE PROPOSAL.
The ground was now getting bare fast, and baseball began to be in order, and James must learn that. Peter brought a ball to school and James soon mastered the game in the simple method in which it was then played, and bore no more honorable appellation than that of “knock-up and catch.”
“How many things a boy has to learn,” said Bertie to Peter as they were going home from school after playing ball for the first time. “I didn’t think a boy had so many things to learn till we began to teach James.”
“Because we had to teach James right along, but we were years about it ourselves. We spread it all over.”
“There’s only one more thing I want James to do, then I shall be satisfied. Ned Conly says master is going to have a spelling school and invite scholars from the other districts, and I want to persuade James to spell, and if he’ll only spell more words than William Morse, Orcutt and Dave Riggs, I shall sit down contented and perfectly happy, and let things take their course.”
“You are a revengeful little viper, brother of mine, did you know it? You can’t forget the blow on the head Morse gave you.”
“It is not that. I wouldn’t have you think it is that, but I want James to beat those three boys who have done all they could to injure him, and out of pure malice because that seems what ought to take place.”
“Well, I shouldn’t wonder if he did, for they are three about as poor spellers of their age as there are in school.”