“You can do it now if you want to,” he said defiantly.
The challenge was accepted. Mike dropped his papers and aimed a blow at Ben. It was returned in good earnest, and then Patsy sailed in.
Ben now proceeded to business. There was for about a minute a lively tussle, during which it was hard to tell which was uppermost and which underneath. But at the end of the first round the two invaders were lying on their backs, Patsy with a bloody nose, and Mike with a black eye, while Ben stood erect with a flushed face and somewhat disordered clothing, a victor.
Just then a policeman rounded the corner, and hastened to the scene of conflict.
“What’s all this?” he asked.
“Only a little scrap,” said Ben.
“The two boys jumped on this one,” put in a bystander, “and tried to lick him.”
Ben now proceeded to business, and at the end of the first round Patsy had a bloody nose, and Mike a black eye.—Page [134].
Ben Bruce.