"Y-y-you done 'courage dese yere kids ter scrap," said Peter, virtuously.
"Me?" cried Jimmie. "I 'ain't had nothin' to do with it."
"I raikon you 'ain't," retorted Peter, with heavy sarcasm. "I raikon you been er-prayin', 'ain't you?" Turning to Willie Dalzel, he said, "You jest take an' run erlong outer dish yere or I'll jest nachually take an' damnearkill you." Willie Dalzel went. To the new boy Peter said: "You look like you had some saince, but I raikon you don't know no more'n er rabbit. You jest take an' trot erlong off home, an' don' lemme caitch you round yere er-fightin' or I'll break yer back." The Hedge boy moved away with dignity, followed by his little brother. The latter, when he had placed a sufficient distance between himself and Peter, played his fingers at his nose and called out:
"'NIG-GER-R-R! NIG-GER-R-R!'"
"Nig-ger-r-r! Nig-ger-r-r!"
Peter Washington's resentment poured out upon Jimmie.
"'Pears like you never would understan' you ain't reg'lar common trash. You take an' 'sociate with an'body what done come erlong."
"Aw, go on," retorted Jimmie, profanely. "Go soak your head, Pete."
The remaining boys retired to the street, whereupon they perceived Willie Dalzel in the distance. He ran to them.