had long limbs; he soon saw that he must do something more than
stand up to be beaten. So, when King Pewee, fighting in the irregular
Western fashion, and hoping to get a decided advantage at once, rushed
upon Jack and pulled his head forward, Jack stooped lower than his enemy
expected, and, thrusting his head between Pewee's knees, shoved his legs
from under him, and by using all his strength threw Pewee over his own
back, so that the king's nose and eyes fell into the dust of the village
street.

"I'll pay you for that," growled Pewee, as he recovered himself, now
thoroughly infuriated; and with a single blow he sent Jack flat on his
back, and then proceeded to pound him. Jack could do nothing now but
shelter his eyes from Pewee's blows.

Joanna Merwin had seen the beginning of the battle from her father's
house, and feeling sure that Jack would be killed, she had run swiftly
down the garden walk to the back gate, through which she slipped into
the alley; and then she hurried on, as fast as her feet would carry her,
to the blacksmith-shop of Pewee Rose's father.

"Oh, please, Mr. Rose, come quick! Pewee's just killing a boy in the
street."

"Vitin' ag'in," said Mr. Rose, who was a Pennsylvanian from the
limestone country, and spoke English with difficulty. "He ees a leetle
ruffen, dat poy. I'll see apout him right avay a'ready, may be."

And without waiting to put off his leathern apron, he walked briskly in
the direction indicated by Joanna. Pewee was hammering Jack without
pity, when suddenly he was caught by the collar and lifted sharply to
his feet.

"Wot you doin' down dare in de dirt wunst a'ready? Hey?" said Mr. Rose,
as he shook his son with the full force of his right arm, and cuffed him
with his left hand. "Didn't I dells you I'd gill you some day if you
didn't gwit vitin' mit oder poys, a'ready?"

"He commenced it," whimpered Pewee.

"You dells a pig lie a'ready, I beleefs, Peter, and I'll whip you fur
lyin' besides wunst more. Fellers like _him_," pointing to Jack, who was
brushing the dust off his clothes,--"fellers like him don't gommence on
such a poy as you. You're such anoder viter I never seed." And he shook
Pewee savagely.

"I won't do it no more," begged Pewee--"'pon my word and honor I won't."

"Oh, you don't gits off dat away no more, a'ready. You know what I'll
giff you when I git you home, you leedle ruffen. I shows you how to
vite, a'ready."

And the king disappeared down the st