than anybody else. And
notwithstanding their continual persecution of Jack, they were mean
enough to ask his assistance, and he, hoping to bring about peace by
good-nature, helped them to get out their geography and arithmetic
almost every day. Unable to appreciate this, they were both convinced
that Jack only did it because he was afraid of them, and as they found
it rare sport to abuse him, they kept it up. By their influence Jack was
shut out of the plays. A greenhorn would spoil the game, they said. What
did a boy that had lived on Wildcat Creek, in the Indian Reserve, know
about playing bull-pen, or prisoner's base, or shinny? If he was brought
in, they would go out.

But the girls, and the small boys, and good-hearted Bob Holliday liked
Jack's company very much. Yet, Jack was a boy, and he often longed to
play games with the others. He felt very sure that he could dodge and
run in "bull-pen" as well as any of them. He was very tired of Riley's
continual ridicule, which grew worse as Riley saw in him a rival in
influence with the smaller boys.

"Catch Will alone sometimes," said Bob Holliday, "when Pewee isn't with
him, and then thrash him. He'll back right down if you bristle up to
him. If Pewee makes a fuss about it, I'll look after Pewee. I'm bigger
than he is, and he won't fight with me. What do you say?"

"I shan't fight unless I have to."

"Afraid?" asked Bob, laughing.

"It isn't that. I don't think I'm much afraid, although I don't like to
be pounded or to pound anybody. I think I'd rather be whipped than to be
made fun of, though. But my father used to say that people who fight
generally do so because they are afraid of somebody else, more than they
are of the one they fight with."

"I believe that's a fact," said Bob. "But Riley aches for a good
thrashing."

"I know that, and I feel like giving him one, or taking one myself, and
I think I shall fight him before I've done. But father used to say that
fists could never settle between right and wrong. They only show which
is the stronger, and it is generally the mean one that gets the best of
it."

"That's as sure as shootin'," said Bob. "Pewee could use you up. Pewee
thinks he's the king, but laws! he's only Riley's bull-dog. Riley is
afraid of him, but he manages to keep the dog on his side all the time."

"My father used to say," said Jack, "that brutes could fight with force,
but men ought to use their wits."

"You seem to think a good deal