Therefore, he and his friends moved hastily away until they were on the opposite side of the street, where they could hide themselves behind the vehicles whenever it became necessary, and at the same time see all that was going on.
Teddy did not intend to recede one whit from the stand he had taken.
As soon as the policeman came up, he told all that had occurred during the previous twenty-four hours.
"So that boy is going to drive you out of town, eh?" the officer said, laughingly.
"No, he isn't goin' to do anything of the kind. That's what he says; but I've got something to say 'bout it. I can't thump him, 'cause you'll 'rest me; but the chances are he'll hit me whenever he can. I sha'n't stand an' take it a great while, an' that's why I want you to know jest how I'm fixed."
"If you don't provoke a quarrel, and he makes any trouble, pitch in. Then come to me, and I'll see you through; but your best way would be to enter a complaint against him on the charge of stealing money."
"That's what I wouldn't like, 'less I had to," Teddy replied. "If he'll give it back, an' I reckon he will before long, that part of it will be all right. I'm a stranger in the city, an' don't want to get inter a fuss with the fellers, 'cause I've got to work 'longside of 'em; but it stands me in hand to have somebody know exactly how things are."
"Come to me if you get into any trouble, providing you keep yourself straight," the officer said, in a kindly tone, as he moved on, and from across the street Master Jellison and his party noted with no slight uneasiness the apparently friendly talk between the boy from Saranac and the policeman.
Carrots was undecided as to what might result from this bold speech of his partner's.
During all his experience in the city, he had never known a newsboy or a bootblack to appeal to the authorities for protection, and Teddy's method of taking care of himself rather startled him.