“Stand up here, if you dare, and you’ll see,” he answered, with compressed lips.
“Let’s give him a licking, James,” said Tom. “It’ll do him good.”
Both boys sprang to their feet, and advanced towards our hero. He saw that his task was not going to be an easy one. The united strength of both of his assailants was undoubtedly greater than his own. If he allowed the two to come to close quarters with him, he would probably get the worst of it. Here was a chance for strategy, and he resolved to improve it.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BATTLE OF THE CLIFF.
Some of my readers are no doubt familiar with the memorable combat between the Horatii and the Curiatii, told in all the Roman histories. There were three brothers on each side, and the contest between them was to decide the fortunes of the armies to which they respectively belonged. After a time two of the Horatii lay dead upon the field. The third, unhurt, found himself opposed to three adversaries, all of whom, however, were wounded. These he managed to engage singly, and was thus enabled to overcome them in turn.
I am not sure whether Harry Raymond had heard of this historical combat; but when he found himself opposed to two enemies, it struck him at once that this was his proper course, if he wanted to come off victorious.
As Tom and James advanced upon him, he feigned to retreat.