Fred was not always bright in arithmetic. One morning he made a ridiculous blunder, and the whole class laughed at him. Mr. Carrin reprimanded Fred for his inattention, and as they filed out for recreation before dinner, Sparrow Bangs—named so because he had a whole cage-full of tame sparrows down at the gatekeeper's cottage—made fun of the red-haired boy.
Fred had been angered by the teacher's sharpness. Now he turned on Sparrow in a terrible passion.
"What's that you say? I'll give you a punch you'll remember."
"Aw, no you won't!" returned Sparrow. "And I'll say it again, Ginger! You've no time to play catch—you'll have to study the multiplication table, like Mr. Carrin said."
Fred rushed at the teasing lad, but Pee Wee and Howell Purdy came between them.
"Cheese it!" said the fat boy. "You two fellows want to get into trouble? Right under the schoolroom windows, too!"
"Well, he's got to stop nagging me," cried Fred, very red, and puffing very hard.
"Who are you, Ginger, that I should be so awfully careful of?" sneered Sparrow. "You're not so much!"
"I'll show you—"
"Stop it! stop it, Fred!" advised Bobby, catching his chum by the arm. "Come on, I want to throw you a few fast ones. We mustn't get out of practice, even if we can't play a regular game until next spring."