"Stop that!" shouted Ted.
"Oh, it's you, Mr. Smarty!" said Sweet, pausing to look up. "I won't stop till I git ready, and if you don't keep your mouth shut, I'll wallop you in the bargain."
"You coward!" cried Ted. "You ought to be ashamed to beat that poor half-witted——"
Sweet suddenly let Billy go and turned upon Ted with uplifted stick.
"Hit him if you dare!" said Buck, stepping up to them.
"'Tain't none o' your business, Buck Hardy!" cried Sweet, furious.
"It's everybody's business when you jump on that poor boy Billy. You know he ain't accountable."
"I reckon I've got a right to thrash him if he won't work. I kin hardly make him lift his hand to do a thing, and when he does work he works so powerful sorry——"
"I thought you was more of a man, Sweet Jackson."
"I depend I'm man enough to give you all you want!" shouted the infuriated Jackson, with a threatening movement.