“You know very well what it is!” he cried. “You’ve got to tell me! It’s some of your doings!”
Peter was jumping into his saddle.
“I’ll tell you like hell!” he shouted.
“You’ll tell me before you go!”
“Let go my bridle! Let go, I tell you! It’s none of your business!”
His face told terrible secrets that Wully had never till that moment imagined suspecting. Now he was pulling him down from his horse.
“Let me alone! It’s not my fault! Take your hands off me! I never meant to hurt her!” Peter was fighting desperately for his freedom. Wully was trying to control his insane rage.
“Stand still and tell me what it is! I’m not going to hurt you!” he cried scornfully. “What are you afraid of? Don’t be a baby!” But his grasp never relaxed. The boy was afraid he would be shaken to death.
“Let me alone! Take your hands off me! Let me go, and I’ll tell you! It’s none of your business, anyway!” He was free now, and trembling. “I didn’t mean to get her into trouble. I wish I’d never seen her! I offered to marry her once——”
He dodged Wully’s blinded blow.