"I'm going to fight him," declared the red-haired boy, showing his teeth. "He can't get out of it."
"Oh! he's not trying to," said Shiner. "In fact, he told me to put it up to you. He wants to knock your head off."
"He'll have a fine time trying it," declared Fred, hotly. "I'll show him—"
"Aw, drop it!" begged Bobby. "You don't want to fight Sparrow—and he doesn't want to fight you."
"Better keep out of this, Bobby Blake," advised Shiner, importantly. "Sparrow says Fred's afraid, anyway—"
"I'll show him!" cried the maddened red-haired boy.
"Bluffing's all right," sneered Shiner. "But will you fight?"
"Give me a chance!"
"Aw-right. We'll put it up to the captain and you and Sparrow can get together down in the corner."
"With gloves? and have Barry Gray boss it? No, I won't," declared the pugnacious Fred. "Sparrow's trying to get out of it. I'll box him in the gym. But if he's got the pluck of a flea, he'll come down to the corner with his bare fists—and you and Bobby here are enough to see fair play."