R XX

BAD LUCK AND GOOD

Of course Darry knew what this attack meant.

His enemy had been brooding over matters for a long time, and despairing
of accomplishing his end while Darry was armed with a gun, during his
daily visits to the big marsh, he had finally decided to lie in wait and
have it out on the road from the village.

Jim wisely backed himself up with a couple of allies in thus undertaking
to give his enemy that long-delayed whipping.

He had tried it once by himself and apparently had no relish to repeat
the experiment.

Perhaps it would have been the part of wisdom on the part of the young
life saver to have taken to his heels and beat a masterly retreat.

Great generals have done this same thing and considered it no dishonor
to save their army for another day.

To a high-spirited lad, however, it is the last thought, and many a
fellow will stand the chances of a beating rather than to turn his back
on the foe.

Of course there was no time to consider the matter.

The three disguised boys attacked him on all sides, and almost before
Darry knew what he was doing blows were being exchanged with a vim.

He fought gallantly and well, sending in just as many hard hits as his
knowledge of the game permitted.

Whenever he saw an opening he was quick to take advantage of the same,
and as a consequence first one of Jim's supporters and then the other
temporarily bit the dust, with a galaxy of stars floating before their
mental vision.

They were very much surprised.

True, they may have heard something about the fighting abilities of this
wonderful new boy; but Jim had kept declaring that only for his lame
hand he would surely have easily come out victor on that memorable day
of the first meeting, and they were forced to believe him.

Artful Jim was wise enough to do a great deal of jumping about, but
seemed quite willing his allies should meet with the brunt of the battle
while he saved himself for the finishing touches.

When Darry had tired himself out against Sim Clark and Bowser then his
time would have arrived.

Darry anticipated being whipped in the encounter.

It was not to be expected that one boy could hold his own against three
such tough customers as those opposed to him, since they would wear him
out.

Nevertheless, he declined to run at the beginning, and after a little it
was entirely out of the question for him to do so, since he lacked the
wind to conduct a flight.

So th