This made Larry more than ever angry and exerting all his strength he turned over and got Peter down. Then Larry struggled to his feet.
“Get up!” he cried to Peter. “I’ll fight you fair!”
“Come on, Jim!” called Peter to his friend. “We can do him now. He’s winded.”
“Oh, I am, eh?” asked Larry. “I guess you’ll find I can use my fists a bit yet!” and he waited for the oncoming of the two.
All this while the fight had been conducted quietly though none the less fiercely. Being in a seldom-used part of the building it was not heard or it would have been interrupted long before.
Now the two advanced at Larry again. He braced himself for the blows he knew would come. And come they did, for the two went at him again, hot and heavy. An unexpected blow from Peter’s fist, landing on the point of Larry’s jaw, made him feel dizzy. He felt as if he was going to topple over. Yet before he fell he resolved to give something in return. So, with a powerful half swing he struck out, straight at Peter’s face.
He felt the blow land, and saw Peter reel. Then Jim closed in on him and Larry felt that the odds were too unequal. He was afraid his precious copy would be taken from him.
Suddenly there sounded a step on the marble floor of the corridor.
“Here, you lads! What do you mean by fighting in the City Hall?” a gruff voice asked.
Larry looked up, to see a big policeman approaching. The boy conquered his inclination to topple over and braced himself. Peter and Jim, at the sight of the bluecoat, took to their heels.