olmates.
It was the happiest day of Pan's life--up until Dick Hardman arrived on
a spirited little black mustang.

"Hey, where'd you git that nag?" yelled Dick, when he sighted Pan.
"An' say, your saddle ain't nothin' but rawhide on a stump."

"You're a liar!" shouted Pan, fiercely tumbling off Pilldarlick.

The red-headed lad pitched out of his saddle and made for Pan. They
began to fight. Instinct was Pan's guide. He hit and scratched and
kicked. But Dick being the larger began to get the better of the
battle, and soon was beating Pan badly when the new teacher came out to
his rescue.

"Stop it," she ordered, separating the belligerents. "Only cats and
dogs fight."

"So--do--cowboys!" panted Pan.

"Not nice ones. Only bad cowboys," she replied, leading Pan away.

"I'll lick you next time," yelled Dick, evilly. "You stuck-up little
snot!"

CHAPTER THREE

Miss Amanda Hill, the teacher, rang the bell, calling all her scholars
in, and school began once more.

Dick Hardman sat across the room from Pan and behind the teacher's back
he made ugly faces at Pan and, more than that, put his nose to his
thumb. Pan understood that, and quick as a flash, he returned the
compliment.

Recess came. Before half the scholars were out of the room Dick and
Pan had run to the barn, out of the teacher's sight, and here they fell
upon each other like wildcats. It did not take Dick long to give Pan
the first real beating of his life. Cut lip, bloody nose, black eye,
dirty face, torn blouse--these things betrayed Pan at least to Miss
Hill. She kept him in after school, and instead of scolding she talked
sweetly and kindly. Pan came out of his sullenness, and felt love for
her rouse in him. But somehow he could not promise not to fight again.

"S'pose Dick Hardman does that all over again!" expostulated Pan in
despair. He did not realize what he felt. He wanted to please and
obey this sweet little woman, but there was a revolt in him. "What'll
my--my daddy--say when he hears I got licked!" he sobbed.

She compromised finally by accepting Pan's willing promise not to pick
a fight with Dick.

Despite the unpleasant proximity of Dick Hardman, that winter at school
promised to be happy and helpful to Pan. There were three large boys,
already cowboys, who attended Miss Hill's school. Pan gravitated at
once to them, and to his great satisfaction they accepted him.

Later his old cowboy friend of the roundu