Tommy nodded. Somehow, he was more glad at having done Jakie a good turn than he would have been had he taken revenge on him for some of the mean things the bully had done to him.
“Indeed, he did stop it!” exclaimed the farmer. “It was as plucky a thing as I ever saw. Then, before the animal had a chance to drag you along farther, he cut the lines. It was done good and proper, and you can thank your lucky stars that you aren’t hurt any worse than you are.”
“I want to thank him,” said Jakie, suddenly holding out his hand to Tommy. “Say,” he went on, awkwardly, “will you—I mean I’m sorry for what I did to you—I didn’t mean——”
“Do you think you can go home?” asked Tommy, of the lad who had been his enemy.
“If you can’t I’ll hitch up and drive you in,” promised the farmer.
“Oh, I’m all right,” insisted Jakie. “Just a little dizzy. I can walk.”
“I’ll go with you,” volunteered Tommy.
For a while, as they walked along, there was an awkward silence between the boys. They did not know what to say to each other. Jakie wanted to tell Tommy how he regretted being so mean, and Tommy did not want to make his new friend feel badly by letting him do it.
“Do you think you can manage to walk home?” asked Tommy, at length, to start some talk.
“Oh, yes. Say, how is your ball nine coming on?”