As the lads were still more than a block away from the school, they could, without breaking the rule, throw snowballs.
Accordingly, Bert and John tossed a few, and Bert made much better shots than did either Danny or Sam, though John did not do so well.
“That’s because I ran and got out of breath when you two were pegging hard balls at me,” he said to the two bullies.
“Aw, we were only in fun,” Danny said.
“Two to one isn’t fair, though,” cried Bert.
“Well, you’re two now—do you want to fight?” asked Sam, who seemed eager for a battle in the snow.
Before Bert or John could answer the clanging of a bell sounded on the clear, frosty air, and Nan Bobbsey, who came through a side street with Flossie and Freddie, cried:
“That’s the next to the last bell! You’d better hurry if you don’t want to be late, Bert!”
“All right, I’m hurrying,” he said.
Even Danny Rugg, bold as he sometimes was, did not seem inclined to break the school rule and throw balls within the block limit set by Mr. Tarton, the principal. However, he still held one of the white missiles in his hand. This he tossed up and down, catching it before it had time to reach the ground. Danny’s new, gold birthday ring sparkled in the sun.