Part 37 (1/2)

Then, as the bully struck out straight from the shoulder, intending to lay Hoki out with one blow, something surprising happened. The j.a.p sidestepped, linked his arm around the bully's neck, and sent him hurtling over his shoulder into the roadway, where he lay, white and still.

”You've killed him!” cried one of the other boys.

”No, kill,” said j.a.p, grimly. ”Could kill, but don't want to kill-this time. Tell him it my pleasure is that he avoid me in future.”

And with that Hoki started on up the road.

”Here, here,” cried one of the boys; ”you can't go yet. Wait till we find how badly he's hurt.”

”He only stunned,” Hoki replied. ”Should you wish me, it would me great pleasure give to entertain you at the mansion of Mr. Duncan.”

Then Hoki went on, while the boys a.s.sisted Carter Dane to his feet.

Carter and the other boys started immediately for the Duncan residence, bent on vengeance, followed by several villagers who had seen the affair.

By the time they arrived, Hoki had told his story, and Chot, Tom and Fleet, with the j.a.p, were out in the yard, ready to receive them.

”Chot Duncan, you've got to give us that j.a.p,” said Carter Dane.

”What do you want with the j.a.p?” Chot calmly asked.

”He played me a dirty trick down there, and we're going to beat him.”

”What about the trick you played him, Dane?”

”I played him no trick.”

”He says you stopped him in the road and threatened him, telling him not to talk to his betters, and from what I know of your reputation, I'm inclined to believe him.”

”Of course you'll take his word before mine, but these boys saw the affair.”

Several of the boys nodded, but they did not seem at all anxious to confirm Dane's statements.

”I saw it, too,” said one of the villagers, ”and the j.a.p was in no way to blame. Dane confronted him and made him fight, and then got mad because the j.a.p threw him over his shoulder into the road. The j.a.p's got pluck and I admire him for it.”

”That's right,” said several of the others.

”Now, listen to me, Dane,” said Chot. ”Hoki is under our protection. I brought him to Mortonville as my guest. When you insult him you insult me. I want you to beg his pardon right now, or you'll have me to settle with.”

”I won't!”

”Very well.” Chot rolled up his sleeves and leaped quickly over the fence into the road. ”You and I had it once before, about two years ago, Dane, and you know what happened. Will you beg his pardon?”