“Opportunity soon offered. One day I was up a tree, bird-nesting, in one of the lanes near our school. I had flung down my books at the foot of the tree before climbing it. Just as I laid hands on the nest, in which there were four eggs, I heard voices below, and looking down, observed Turner, Tiddler, and Tadpole passing.
“‘I wonder what careless fellow has flung down his books in that fashion,’ said Tom.
“‘I am the careless fellow!’ I shouted. At the same time I flung the nest straight into his upturned face. The result was better than I had expected; for it hit him fair, and the four eggs, bursting on his forehead, poured over his eyes and nose.
“This was received with a shout of laughter by the other boys. I leaped to the ground, strode up to Tom with doubled fists, and asked if he would fight me.
“‘Not if I can help it,’ said Tom, quietly wiping his face.
“Amazed at his forbearance I scarce knew how to act. At last I said, sneeringly, ‘I never quite believed you to be a coward until to-day.’
“‘Whether I’m a coward or not is, perhaps, doubtful; but I came under a promise not to quarrel with you if I could avoid it, and you see, Jacob, I’m trying to keep my promise, though it’s not easy.’
“‘Perhaps that will make it less easy,’ I said, suddenly fetching him what was meant to be a slap in the face; but by a prompt withdrawal of his head he let my hand pass. Instantly I fetched him another slap with the left hand, but he caught my wrist, and stopped it.
“‘Come, Jacob,’ said he, in a rather stern voice, ‘I will fight you, but it must be done in the regular way, on the green.’
“Satisfied with this, I left him, to prepare for the encounter.