Sid conducted the throng to an untenanted stable in the rear of some dwellings on West Broadway, and said, as he led them through a convenient opening:
"I reckon you might fight here a month without anybody hearing you. Could you find anything better'n this?"
Most of the boys were loud in their praises of the spot; but it really seemed as if Skip fancied it too retired.
"He'd rather be where the cops would come," Carrots whispered to Teddy. "I do believe he's afraid already; an' I tell you, Teddy, if you can thrash Skip well, it'll be the biggest kind of a thing for a lot of fellers I know of in this town!"
"I reckon I'll be all right. Don't you even say a word, no matter what happens, and I think when our little scrap is finished, he won't have anything more to say about our leaving the city."
It did not require many moments to settle the terms of combat.
Half a dozen of the larger members of the party arranged the details by promising to whip any fellow who should attempt to interfere, and then the word was given.
Teddy did not immediately put himself in an attitude of defence, but, addressing the spectators, said:
"I don't want any feller to think I came here 'cause I'm fond of fight. Skip Jellison has said I've got to leave town, and that Carrots must, too, just because he helped me. He tried to drive me away by stealing a dollar of my money from Carrots, and then he set the box pile on fire last night to smoke us out, or something worse. All I want of him is to give up the cash, and agree to let us alone. If he's willing to do that, there's no need of this row; but if he don't, I shall fight him the best I know how."
Skip's only reply was to rush forward angrily, and an instant later the battle was on.