Johnny had a spirit of his own, though he was a small boy, and he doubled up his small fists, and said, angrily:
“You have no business to keep our marbles.”
“What are you going to do about it?” demanded Herbert, provokingly.
“I know what I’d do if I was as big as you,” said Johnny, hotly.
“Well, what would you do, you little bantam?”
“I’d give you a licking and make you cry.”
“Hear the small boy talk!” said Herbert, bursting into a laugh.
“It’s because we are small boys that you interfere with us,” said Harry. “You don’t dare to take one of your size.”
“Look here, you little rascal, you are getting impudent,” said Herbert, who was sensitive to an imputation that he knew to be well founded. “If you ain’t careful, I’ll do something worse than take your marbles.”
“What will you do?” asked Johnny, spiritedly.