“Is this so, Simon? You saw all that happened.”
“Ye—es,” admitted Simon, unwillingly.
“That puts a different face on the matter. I don’t see how I can arrest this boy. He had a right to defend himself.”
“He came up and abused me—the loafer,” said Peter.
“That was the reason you went at him?”
“Yes.”
“Have you anything to say?” asked the constable, addressing Gilbert.
“Yes, sir; when I came up I saw this boy firing stones at a cat, who had taken refuge in that tree over there. He had just hit her, and had picked up a larger stone to fire when I ordered him to drop it.”
“It was no business of yours,” muttered Peter.
“I made it my business, and will again.”