Janey held her breath. It was the first time she had ever seen Johnny in a fight, for he was a quiet little fellow and always avoided a fight if it were possible. But now Johnny was very angry, and Janey felt sorry for the Strange Man.
“Let him up, Johnny! He’s had enough! He says for you to quit! Let him up!” Janey cried.
“Now, you keep back, Sis!” Johnny shouted, his eyes full of tears. “I’ll teach him to strike you! There!—There! Will you ever—There!—do it again?”
“No, I won’t! Honest!” the Strange Man cried, closing his eyes tight each time Johnny bumped his head on the ground.
“All right!” Johnny said as he got off of the Strange Man and stood back to see what he would do upon getting up from the ground.
The Strange Man picked up his hat and stick without looking at Johnny, turned and walked across the clearing. When he had reached the other side he looked over his shoulder, and shaking his stick at the children he cried, “You just wait! I’ll catch you and pay you back! You just wait!”
Johnny, in spite of his sister’s attempt to hold him back, ran across the clearing after the Strange Man, who turned again and sped through the ferns like a deer.
When Johnny reached the edge of the clearing he stamped his feet upon the ground loudly. The Strange Man, thinking Johnny was close behind him, redoubled his efforts and catching his foot in a vine went sprawling among the ferns.
Johnny doubled up with laughter and Janey could not help joining in.
“My! You surely can fight, Johnny!” she said admiringly. Janey put her arm around her brother’s neck and kissed him.