"Do you mean me by that?" demanded Redman, rushing up to Richard, and shaking his fist in his face.
"I do."
"Then take that;" and Redman struck Richard in the face.
The latter did take that, but the next instant his assailant lay upon the ground, where Richard with a single blow had thrown him.
"None of that, Redman," interposed Nevers. "The colonel will be down upon us."
"Let's lick him," said another.
"I am ready," coolly replied Richard, throwing off his coat.
But prudence carried the day, and the mutineers retired to the big oak. Only about fifty, or one fourth of the students, responded to the call of Redman, and the rest retired from the ground.
"What did they mean by 'watermelons'?" asked Bailey, as they walked up to the Institute.
"I'll tell you all about it;" replied Richard. "I got into some scrapes before I came here;" and he told his companions the whole story. "But, fellows, I have turned over a new leaf."