"Suppose he won't give it up?"
"Then I'll lick him every day till he's glad to clear out. All you boys know I don't stand no nonsense."
The result of Sam's boastful talk was that about a hundred boys collected about the school house to witness the boys' duel.
Many of them who had suffered from Sam's bullying disposition would have been glad to see him worsted, but none anticipated it.
Nothing was known of Tony except that he was considerably smaller and lighter, and probably weaker. It was generally thought that he would not be able to hold out long, and that Sam would achieve an easy victory.
Tony tried to be on hand at the time appointed, but he had more than usual to do, and it was five minutes past seven when he entered the field, accompanied by James.
There had been various speculations as to the cause of his delay.
"He won't come," said Sam, with a sneer; "he's afraid."
"What'll you do if he don't come?" asked John Nolan.