I sat down beside him on the curb, and we snuggled together for warmth.

"Never mind, old sport," I whispered cheerily. "Just think of the goodies
Mary Ellen's making for us! Pretty soon we'll be home."

While I strove to revive The Seraph's flagging spirits, Angel had strolled
along the street to watch the little girls. He had an eye for the gentle
sex even when their fairness was disguised by dirty pinafores and stiff
pigtails. I did not see what happened, but above the noise of the organ I
heard first, shouts of derision and anger, and then my brother's voice
crying out in pain.

I pushed aside the clinging Seraph and ran to where I saw the two groups
melted into one about a pair of combatants. The little girls parted to let
me through. I saw then that the contending parties were Angel and a boy
whose tousled head was fully six inches above my brother's. He had gripped
Angel by the back of the neck with one hand, while with the other he struck
blows that sounded horrible to me. Angel was hitting out wildly. When the
boy saw me, he hooked his leg behind Angel's and threw him on his back with
deadly ease, at the same time administering a kick in the stomach. He
turned then to me with a leer.

"Well, pretty," he simpered, "does yer want some too? I s'y fellers, 'ere's
another Hangel comin' fer 'is dose. Put up yer little 'ooks then; an' I'll
give yer two black 'osses an' a red driver! Aw, come on, sissy!"

I tried to remember what father had said about fighting. "Don't clutch and
don't paw. Strike out from the shoulder like a gentleman." So, while the
boy was talking, I struck out from the shoulder right on the end of his
nose with my shut fist.

Whatever things I may achieve, never, ah, never shall I experience a thrill
of triumph equal to that which made my blood dance when I saw a trickle--a
goodly, rich red trickle!--of blood spurt from the bully's nose.

"Ow! Ow! Wesley! Oo's got a red driver on 'is own?" shouted his comrades.
"Plug aw'y little 'un!"

He snarled horribly, showing his big front teeth. I could feel his breath
hot on my face as he clutched me round the neck. I could see some boys
holding Angel back, I could hear The Seraph's wail of "John! John!" Then,
simultaneously there came a blow on my own nose, and a grasping of my
collar, and a shaking that freed us of each other, for I was clutching him
with fury equal to his own.

A minute passed before I could regain possession of myself. The str