"He wasn't in it at all, from the time they begun," Teenie had stated to his friends; and on more than one occasion he had referred to this defeat in the presence of Skip himself.
It is but fair to say, however, that Skip Jellison positively denied the truth of any such statement. In explanation of the blackened eye and badly swollen lip he brought from Brooklyn, he announced that he had been set upon by a crowd of young ruffians.
"Of course a feller's goin' to get some clips when he tackles a dozen or fifteen fellers at once," Skip explained to an admiring audience, shortly after Master Massey's story had been noised about the streets; "but every one of 'em got it worse'n I did, an' it wasn't more'n five minutes before all hands were runnin' lickertysplit up Fulton Street. I reckon they didn't stop till they got to Prospect Park. Teenie wants to make out a good story; but it's all a whopper, an' he knows it."
Now, although Carrots believed that Master Massey had told the truth in regard to what really occurred in Brooklyn, Carrots did not feel competent to take upon himself the task of cowing the bully; and he felt reasonably certain Skip would carry his threats into effect should occasion arise.
Carrots was also quite positive the occasion would arise, because he did not intend to desert Teddy.
"I'm goin' right ahead with what I 'greed to do," he said to himself. "If Skip wants to thump me for it, I s'pose I'll have to let him."
These reflections were interrupted by Reddy Jackson, who asked, as he approached and halted in front of Carrots:
"Seen Skip lately?"
"He jest went away. Been' round, kinder reg'latin' the town. Goin' to rest hisself, 'cause he's most played out workin' so hard."
"Did he tell you anything?"