“I didn’t aim at the horse,” replied Bobby. “I was trying to hit a rock on the other side of the road.”
“I don’t believe it,” snarled the bully.
“I can’t help whether you believe it or not,” answered Bobby. “It’s the truth.”
“You needn’t think you’re going to crawl out of it that way,” Ap snapped back. “You hit my horse on purpose and now I’m going to hit you.”
He lifted his whip higher to make good his threat. Bobby’s fists clenched and his eyes glowed.
“Don’t you touch me with that whip, Ap Plunkit,” he warned, “or it will be the worse for you.”
“You bet it will!” cried Fred, rushing forward. “You touch Bobby and we’ll all pitch into you.”
“That’s what!” ejaculated Mouser.
“Sure thing,” added Pee Wee, who, though lazy and hard to rouse, was always loyal to his friends.
For a moment it seemed as though a general scrimmage could not be avoided, and the girls gave little frightened shrieks.