"Where have you been, Joshua?"
Joshua was not desirous of having it known where he had been, and he answered, in the surly manner characteristic of him, "What business is that of yours?"
"Where did you learn manners?" asked Frank, who was a sturdy scion of Young America, and quite disposed to stand up for his rights.
"If you're impudent, I'll give you a licking," growled Joshua.
"Next time you come along this way, you may take in your own bundles," retorted Frank.
"If I had a stick, I'd give you something you wouldn't like."
"You'd have to catch me first," said Frank.
Joshua's temper, which was none of the sweetest, was by this time roused, and he started in pursuit of Frank, but the younger boy dodged so adroitly as to baffle his pursuit. In attempting to catch him, indeed, Joshua stubbed his toe violently against a projecting root, and measured his length by the roadside.
"Who's down, I wonder?" asked Frank, scrambling over the fence, where he felt safe.