wiftly upon his antagonist. So unexpected was the attack, that
Sammie was caught off guard, and ere he could raise a hand he received
two black eyes, while his nose began to bleed profusely. With a howl
of pain and rage, he tried to defend himself, but he could do nothing
against that whirlwind of fists which was swirling against him. He
endeavoured to dodge and run away, but, catching his foot in the leg of
a desk, he fell sprawling to the floor.

By this time some of the older boys had arrived, who cheered lustily as
they saw Sammie go down before his young opponent. They looked upon
Rod with much interest, and worthy of their attention. In fact, he
became quite a hero for the remainder of the day, while the defeated
bully, with black eyes, and swollen nose, sat sullenly in his seat,
keeping his head bent over his desk, and not daring to look any one in
the face. When school was out he did not wait for his usual pranks,
but hurried away home as speedily as possible.

Rod said nothing at home about the incident at the school. He was
afraid that Parson Dan and Mrs. Royal would be angry if they learned
that he had been fighting, especially with Sammie Dunker. And,
besides, if he told he would have to explain what had led him into the
affray, and he did not wish to tell that he had taken Nancy's part. It
would seem too much like boasting, and he had always disliked boasters
who figured in some stories Mrs. Royal had read to him.

Next morning as he walked along the road to school carrying his
lunch-basket, he was in a different mood from the previous day. Then
he had the feeling of a soldier, with nerves high strung going into
battle; now he was the victor, with the danger past and trouble over.
He believed that Sammie would not bother him again, and that the little
girls would look up to him as their natural protector.

He was thinking of these things as he drew near the store. Behind him
lumbered a large wagon, drawn by two horses. Tom Dunker, big and
burly, held the reins, and as he caught sight of the little boy ahead,
a scowl overspread his heavy face. Sammie had given his version of the
fight in which Rod was entirely in the wrong. This his parents
believed, and, accordingly, were very angry. So as Tom now beheld Rod,
he thought it would be a smart thing to give him a great scare.

Rod was walking at one side of the road, and just as the horses' heads
were abreast of him, Tom drew them sharply to