So excessive was his prudence that he did not allow himself to stray more than half a dozen paces from Teddy's side, no matter what business might demand.
The morning trade opened in the most prosperous fashion, and the partners had already sold eight papers and put on four shines, when Master Jellison and his companions appeared on the scene.
"Look out for 'em!" Carrots said, nervously. "They are going to make a fuss, now, sure."
"Keep right on with your work, an' don't pay any 'tention, no matter what they say," Teddy replied; and the three boys who claimed the right to control business in that section of the city approached until they were offensively near those who had been warned to leave town.
"Didn't you get enough yesterday to serve you out?" Skip asked, angrily, of Carrots.
The latter made no reply.
"I reckon you know what I said 'bout your workin' 'roun' here," the bully continued, stepping yet closer, and shaking his fist in Carrots's face.
At this point, Teddy thought best to interfere, and, taking the box from his companion's hand, he stepped between Carrots and Skip.
"Now, I've got somethin' to say in this business," he began; "an' I want you to remember it, jest as much as we'll remember what you've said 'bout our goin'. I came down to this town to earn a livin', an' to leave other folks alone, same's I told you over there by the fountain. Yesterday you pounded Carrots, an' stole a dollar of my money from him. Now do you think I'm such a chump as to stand that?"
"Well, why don't you do somethin' 'bout it?" Skip asked, with a sneer, as he put himself in an attitude of defense.