r his breath, and not yet wholly
conquered, though unable to make any further threatening gestures
toward his cruel oppressor.

Hugh had already started to quietly remove both his overcoat and the
under one. These he handed over to Thad for safe-keeping. Nick saw
his actions with keen delight. Apparently, the hope he had entertained
of forcing Hugh Morgan into meeting him in a clean-cut issue, to see
which would prove the better man, was about to be realized.

"It's just got to be done, I see," Hugh was saying, as he faced the
leering victor in the unequal affair just concluded. "You big coward,
I'm going to teach you that there's danger in picking on a boy smaller
than yourself. In other words, you're due for a thrashing you'll never
forget. Now look out for yourself!"

CHAPTER VI

MAKING A GOOD JOB OF IT

A fight between two boys is not a very pleasant subject with which to
deal. In this particular circumstance there were, however, mitigating
conditions that would almost make it a pleasure to describe the battle.
Hugh was standing up for the rights of the weak, and had only plunged
into the scrimmage when he saw that Nick had treated Owen in a most
cruel manner.

Once he started in and he meant business. There could be no half-way
measures in handling so crafty and unprincipled a customer as the town
bully. He must be carried off his feet with the impetuosity of the
attack; and while still bewildered thoroughly punished. As Hugh had
well said he needed a lasting lesson. Perhaps after this Nick would
think twice before attacking a weaker boy, who might have a friend
capable and willing to take up cudgels in his behalf.

Nick flourished those big fists of his, and commenced to dance
tauntingly around as though meaning to enlist the admiration of his
cronies, who had never yet seen him come out of a battle second-best,
and therefore deemed him invincible.

Hugh leaped at him with fury glowing in his eyes. Some powerful fever
seemed to have utterly overwhelmed the boy. Thad and those others
stared as though they could not believe their vision. Was this
impetuous boy who struck down Nick's guard as though nothing could
restrain his attack, the same Hugh Morgan who on numerous occasions had
been known to arbitrate a dispute, and declare that it was not worth
getting into a temper over? A miracle seemed to have happened. The
sight of Nick's brutal treatment of Owen Dugdale must have transforme