“How dare you touch me?” demanded Tommy, furiously, stamping his foot.
“It doesn’t require much daring, you mischievous little scamp!” said Andy.
“I’ll get my father to turn you away,” threatened Tommy.
“Just as you like,” said Andy, amused. “I am doing him a favor by staying; and he knows it.”
“I’ll get him to give you a flogging!” said Tommy, finding that the first threat had very little effect.
“If he would give you a sound whipping, it’s only what you deserve,” said our hero, going back to his work.
“He wouldn’t whip me. My mother wouldn’t let him!” said Tommy.
Andy laughed. He was disposed to think that the boy was only telling the truth, since Mrs. Brackett appeared to have her husband under her thumb, as he had already found out.
Tommy felt outraged by the thought that his father’s hired boy had dared to lay hands on him, and thirsted for revenge. If he had only been stronger than Andy, our hero would have stood a chance of a thrashing then and there; but, unfortunately for Tommy, his strength was not equal to his spirit.
“What shall I do?” he thought.