Mr. Waddie had placed himself in a position which he could not well evacuate. He evidently had no heart for the encounter which he foresaw must take place if he struck me, and perhaps he had not entire confidence in the character of the support which he was to receive. At any rate he could not help realizing that the first blows of the battle were likely to be dealt upon his own head.
“You called me a liar,” said he, working up his courage again by a new recital of his wrongs.
“I did, and apologized for it,” I replied.
“Go down on your knees, then, and say you are sorry.”
“I will not.”
“Then mind your eye,” continued Waddie, as with a sudden spring he hit me on the arm, which I had raised to ward off the blow.
I did mind my eye, and I minded his, too; for, before he could bring up his supports, I leaped upon him. Though he was of my own size and age, he was only a baby in my hands. I grasped his stick, wrenched and twisted it a few times, and then threw him over backwards into a pool of soft mud, which I had chosen to flank my position and save me from an attack in the rear. He was half buried in the soft compound of black mud and decayed leaves which filled the hole, and his good clothes suffered severely from the effects of his disaster.
The moment the conflict commenced the supports moved up; but, before they could come into action, I had overthrown my assailant, and stood against the tree with the club in my hand. When Waddie went over backwards, a new duty seemed to be suggested to his backers; and, instead of turning on me, they proceeded to help their principal out of his uncomfortable position. Encouraged and thoroughly waked up by my victory, I think I could have thrashed the whole party; but I had not wholly escaped the influence of my mother’s teachings, and was disposed to act strictly in self-defence.
The quagmire into which Waddie had fallen was near the bank of the brook which meandered through the grove, and which had been bridged in several places, as well to add to the convenience of passers-by, as to increase the picturesque beauty of the place. I deemed it best to retreat to one of these bridges, which was not more than three feet wide, and which would enable me to defend myself from an assault to the best advantage.
“Humph! you cowards!” snarled Waddie, as his companions lifted him out of the slough, and he spit out the mud and water which filled his mouth. “Why didn’t you stand by me, as you promised?”