Suddenly they stopped. There, only a short distance from them, leaning against the trunk of a stunted oak, was the hated Carter Hewes. He was looking at them fixedly. "Where's your black nurse?" he said, grinning.
"I suppose you mean our body-servant, sir," said George, keeping his balance with an effort on the rickety top rail.
The larger boy laughed. "You ought not to be out alone," he said.
"We are able to take care of ourselves, and you, too, I'll warrant," said William, who also maintained his post of vantage with some difficulty.
"I dare you to come over on our property," said Carter, moving toward them, menacingly.
Whether the top rail slipped, or whether the challenge was too much for the young Frothingham blood is not to be told, but in an instant both boys were down upon the ground. Carter had removed his coat.
"I'll fight you both," he said.
William plucked George by the sleeve. "Me first," he whispered, removing his hat and turning up his sleeves.
George stepped to one side, and in an instant the two boys were at it without another word.
Some blows were exchanged, and then the combatants clinched and rolled upon the ground, first one on top, and then the other, scratching and striking with all their might.