“He’s afraid!” said Tom, in exultation. “Let’s give him a licking.”
James had no possible objection. Indeed, he felt that there was nothing he would enjoy so much as to see our hero humiliated. He would not have ventured to attack him alone, but now with Tom’s assistance there seemed an excellent opportunity, such as might not again present itself.
“Go ahead!” he called out. “I’ll help you.”
Tom did go ahead. Being a faster runner than James, he found himself separated from him by a considerable distance in the impetuosity of his pursuit.
Harry turned his head, and, seeing that his opportunity had come, suddenly faced round upon his astonished adversary.
Tom, unable to check himself, almost rushed into the arms of our hero.
“Now defend yourself!” shouted Harry.
So saying, he clinched Tom, who was too astonished to defend himself properly, and with a quick movement of the leg brought him down heavily upon the ground, with Harry on top.
Lying on the ground, in such a position as to fit into the small of Tom’s back, was a stone about as large as the one he had thrown into the basket of eggs. The sensation which resulted from falling upon it was by no means pleasant.
“Oh!” he whined, “I’ve broken my backbone. Get off from me, Harry Raymond.”