"I don't care what you say; you haven't got enough. You have given me two sore eyes and a bloody nose, and you haven't got anything to balance it," growled Walk. "I mean to break your head, and then I will call it square."
"But I don't want my head broken, if it is all the same to you," replied Paul, leaning on the oar. "My head is of some use to me, and it would not be pleasant to have it broken."
"You began it, and you shall have enough of it before we are done," added Walk, beginning to breathe a little more freely.
"I began it?" queried Paul with the same cheerful smile. "I don't think so, and I should like to argue the question with you."
"Didn't you hit me first, you nunkhead?" demanded Walk.
"Didn't you lay hold of my sister first, and frighten her half out of her wits?"
"I didn't hurt her, and I was only fooling with her."
"Fooling with her! That's just what I was doing with you. I was only fooling with you, Mr. Walker."
"I don't like that sort of fooling, you speckled cur!"
"My sister didn't like your sort of fooling any better than you like mine. But, if you want to stop fooling, now is a good time to begin."