"Well, not since my dad gave me a walloping last," laughed the boy.
"Don't you think a good, sound thrashing would do you a whole lot of good?"
Bob grinned broadly. By this time he had dug down around Rush until the latter was able to clamber from the pile of ore.
"Well, I don't know about that."
"I do, and I know you've got to have one before very long," announced young Rush with strong emphasis.
"I will, eh?"
"You will," affirmed Steve, brushing the dirt from his clothes.
"And who's going to give me this licking, Little Miss Hurry-up?" demanded Jarvis threateningly.
"I am," replied Steve in a quiet tone.
Jarvis began to take off his coat.