to look out of
the window, and saw a boy descending one of the apple-trees. One of old
Maggie's troubles was the stealing of her apples by village boys. She
had dilated extensively on the subject and aroused her friend's anger.
With a burst of indignation, he rushed out, and caught little Spinks in
the act of making off with his second capful of apples.

"`What! Spinks? I should not have expected this of you,' said Tom,
releasing my little victim.

"`I didn't want to do it,' whimpered Spinks; `but I couldn't help it.
I--'

"`Yes, yes; I understand. Who was it that set you on?'

"`Please, I don't want to tell.'

"I am convinced that brave little Spinks would have refused to tell to
the end of the chapter, but I saved him further trouble. Wondering, as
I stood behind the wall, what kept him so long, I shouted, `Come along,
Spinks; look sharp!'

"`Oh! I know now who did it,' said Turner. `Go, my boy. I'll relieve
you of the apples.'

"So saying, he carried the apples to the owner, and Spinks came and told
me what had occurred.

"`I'll thrash Tom Turner for this,' I said bitterly, as we returned to
the school.

"For some time past I had made up my mind to fight him. On several
occasions I had proved myself to be possessed of a little more bodily
strength than Tom; and as regarded endurance and pluck, I felt quite at
ease on these points.

"Opportunity soon offered. One day I was up a tree, bird-nesting, in
one of the lanes near our school. I had flung down my books at the foot
of the tree before climbing it. Just as I laid hands on the nest, in
which there were four eggs, I heard voices below, and looking down,
observed Turner, Tiddler, and Tadpole passing.

"`I wonder what careless fellow has flung down his books in that
fashion,' said Tom.

"`I am the careless fellow!' I shouted. At the same time I flung the
nest straight into his upturned face. The result was better than I had
expected; for it hit him fair, and the four eggs, bursting on his
forehead, poured over his eyes and nose.

"This was received with a shout of laughter by the other boys. I leaped
to the ground, strode up to Tom with doubled fists, and asked if he
would fight me.

"`Not if I can help it,' said Tom, quietly wiping his face.

"Amazed at his forbearance I scarce knew how to act. At last I said,
sneeringly, `I never quite believed you to be a coward until to-day.'

"`Whether I'm a coward or not is, perhaps, doubt