"Take that, then!" said the fellow, as he struck at Ben.
Our hero dodged, and returned the compliment.
At that moment a policeman came round the corner, just in time to see Ben's demonstration.
"So you're fightin' agin, you young rascal!" exclaimed the valiant officer. "I've got ye this time!" and he seized Ben by the shoulder.
Ben turned, and, it must be confessed, was startled to find himself, for the first time in his life, in the hands of the law.
"That boy attacked me, sir," he said.
"It's a lie!" exclaimed Mike Rafferty. "Isn't it b'yes?"
"Yes, it's a lie!" chimed in his companions, whose sympathies, of course, were with Mike.
"Jist what I thought meself," said the astute officer.