"Rover's had a fight," replied Dick.
"Ah! Who with?"
"Mr. Jones's Bose."
"Well, which whipped?"
"Rover, of course," replied Dick, with a smile of triumph; "and I can make him whip any thing."
"You're a keen chap, Dick," said Mr. Acres, patting the boy on the head, "and are going to make a man one of these days, I see plainly enough. So Rover whipped. I knew there was prime stuff in him."
"There isn't another such a fellow in these 'ere parts," was Dick's proud answer.
"But you look a little the worse for wear, as well as Rover. Have you been fighting, too?"
Dick held down his head for a moment, and then looking up into Mr. Acres's face, said—
"Yes, sir," in rather a sheepish way.