"That's right!" exclaimed Sparrow, generously. "If this big simpleton, Bender, won't take the lead, let Bobby do it."
"Sure! let Bobby do it!" shouted the others.
Bobby, his eyes flashing, his cheeks red with excitement, did not argue the point. Of course he wanted to lead—what boy would not?
Besides, he believed they could hold the Beldenites off until reinforcements came. Max Bender stood beside him, packing a snowball tighter, and said nothing. Bobby jumped up and looked over the high parapet. It was almost two feet across at the top, and lots thicker at the bottom. The inside was cut straight up and down, but outside it sloped.
Bobby could stand upon a rock and see over the top of the wall. Hi Letterblair and his crowd was now quite near. When Bobby popped up Hi saw the Rockledge boy.
"Hurrah!" yelled the Belden leader. "Come on, fellows! Charge!"
"Let's fire at them, Bobby!" gasped Fred, fairly dancing up and down in his eagerness.
"No. They're too far away yet. Hold your fire."
"Till we see the whites of their eyes—just like Bunker Hill!" exclaimed Sparrow Bangs.
"They'll hammer the life out of us if they get up here," grumbled Max.