One day the schooling gave way to a fist fight.
"Boy, go find yourself another road!" the man commanded.
And Giorgio leaned forward. "Why should I go?"
"Because you're a milksop; too sissy to fight!"
This was the spark that touched it off. Giorgio leaped from his mount, tied him to a sapling, caught the man's foot, swung him off Farfalla, and began punching with both fists.
The wiry groom ducked the blows, tossed Giorgio into the dirt, and would have trampled him mercilessly had not Farfalla taken this moment to fly past, her heels narrowly scraping the man's head. It was all the advantage Giorgio needed. He caught the groom off guard, sprang to his feet, and grasping the man's arms, he pinned them tight to his sides. The groom lowered his head, butting it against Giorgio's, and at the same time twisted his shoulders, trying to wrench free. But Giorgio held fast, his arms locked tight around the lean body.
"Look!" the groom cried in mock alarm. "Farfalla escapes!"