“How much of a place is there for a coward who picks out some little chap who can’t defend himself and spends his time picking on him?”
“Do you say I am a coward?” shouted Gus, drawing back his fist threateningly.
“You know better than I do,” retorted Dan quietly. “I’m sorry if Carlton has been telling Mr. Hale about your dirty tricks. I don’t believe he has, but even if he did, he wasn’t going beyond his rights. His mother pays a lot of money to send him here and she has a right to expect that her boy shall get her money’s worth. If any fellow tries to——”
“Do you say I am a coward?” Gus again broke in loudly.
“I haven’t said so.”
“Yes, you have! You feel mighty safe to talk that way here in the dormitory where the teachers can hear everything. Come on down to the field! I’ll show you whether I’m a coward or not! I’ll meet you any time you say!” Gus raised his voice and fairly shouted his defiance.
“You talk like a brave man,” said Dan in a low voice.
“I’m no mucker anyway!”
“Aren’t you? You might ask some of the boys what they think.”