Part 19 (1/2)
”Excuse me, G.o.dfrey; I didn't mean to run into you.”
”That don't go down.”
”Indeed, I didn't. I didn't see you.”
”I can't help it. You ought to have been more careful. Take that, to make you more careful.”
As he said this, he seized him by the collar, and, tripping him, laid him flat on his back.
”For shame, G.o.dfrey!” said another boy standing by; but as it was a small boy, G.o.dfrey only answered:
”If you say that again, I'll serve you the same way.”
Alfred tried to get up, but G.o.dfrey put his knee on his breast.
”Let me up, G.o.dfrey,” said Alfred, piteously. ”I can't breathe. You hurt me.”
”I'll teach you to run into me,” said the bully.
”I didn't mean to.”
”I want to make sure of your not doing it again.”
”Do let me up,” said Alfred.
In return, G.o.dfrey only pressed more heavily, and the little fellow began to cry. But help was near at hand. Andy Burke happened to come up the hill just then, and saw what was going on. He had a natural chivalry that prompted him always to take the weaker side. But besides this, he liked Alfred for his good qualities, and disliked G.o.dfrey for his bad ones. He did not hesitate a moment, therefore, but ran up, and, seizing G.o.dfrey by the collar with a powerful grasp, jerked him on his back in the twinkling of an eye. Then, completely turning the tables, he put his knee on G.o.dfrey's breast, and said:
”Now, you know how it is yourself. How do you like it?”
”Let me up,” demanded G.o.dfrey, furiously.
”That's what Alfred asked you to do,” said Andy, coolly. ”Why didn't you do it?”
”Because I didn't choose,” answered the prostrate boy, almost foaming at the mouth with rage and humiliation.
”Then I don't choose to let you up.”
”You shall suffer for this,” said G.o.dfrey, struggling, but in vain.
”Not from your hands. Oh, you needn't try so hard to get up. I can hold you here all day if I choose.”
”You're a low Irish boy!”
”You're lower than I am just now,” said Andy.
”Let me up.”
”Why didn't you let Alfred up?”
”He ran against me.”