ry to claim kin with me that way, Riley. No use; I won't
stand it. I don't belong to your family. I'm neither a fool nor a
coward."

"Hurrah!" shouted Bob Holliday, bringing down first one and then the
other of his big feet on the floor. "It's your put-in now, Riley."

"Don't be backward in coming forward, Will, as the Irish priest said to
his people," came from grave Harvey Collins, who here looked up from his
book, thoroughly enjoying the bully's discomfiture.

"That's awfully good," said Joanna Merwin, clasping her hands and
giggling with delight.

King Pewee doubled up his fists and looked at Riley to see if he ought
to try his sort of wit on Jack. If a frog, being pelted to death by
cruel boys, should turn and pelt them again, they could not be more
surprised than were Riley and King Pewee at Jack's repartees.

"You'd better be careful what you say to Will Riley," said Pewee. "I
stand by him."

But Jack's blood was up now, and he was not to be scared.

"All the more shame to him," said Jack. "Look at me, shaken all to
pieces with the fever and ague on the Wildcat, and look at that great
big, bony coward of a Riley. I've done him no harm, but he wants to
abuse me, and he's afraid of me. He daren't touch me. He has to coax you
to stand by him, to protect him from poor little me. He's a great
big----"

"Calf," broke in Bob Holliday, with a laugh.

"You'd better be careful," said Pewee to Jack, rising to his feet. "I
stand by Riley."

"Will you defend him if I hit him?"

"Yes."

"Well, then, I won't hit him. But you don't mean that he is to abuse me,
while I am not allowed to answer back a word?"

"Well--" said Pewee hesitatingly.

"Well," said Bob Holliday hotly, "I say that Jack has just as good a
right to talk with his tongue as Riley. Stand by Riley if he's hit,
Pewee; he needs it. But don't you try to shut up Jack." And Bob got up
and put his broad hand on Jack's shoulder. Nobody had ever seen the big
fellow angry before, and the excitement was very great. The girls
clapped their hands.

"Good for you, Bob, I say," came from Susan Lanham, and poor, ungainly
Bob blushed to his hair to find himself the hero of the girls.

"I don't mean to shut up Jack," said Pewee, looking at Bob's size, "but
I stand by Riley."

"Well, do your standing sitting down, then," said Susan. "I'll get a
milking-stool for you, if that'll keep you quiet."

It was well that the master came in just then, or Pewee would