Part 5 (1/2)

”No!”

”Ner gouge?”

”What do you mean by 'gouge'?” Pleasant pantomimed with a thumbnail crooked on the outer edge of each eye-socket.

”No!” was the horrified cry.

”Jest a square, stand-up and knock-down fight?”

”Yes,” she said reluctantly but bravely.

”Lum will be timekeeper and referee to make them break away when they clinch.” When she explained that Pleasant scratched his head.

”They can't even _wra.s.sle_?” Miss Holden understood and did not correct.

”They can't even _wra.s.sle_. And you and I will be the seconds.”

”Seconds--whut do we do?”

”Oh, we--we fan them and--and wash off the blood,” she s.h.i.+vered a little in spite of herself. Pleasant smiled broadly.

”Which one you goin' to wash off?”

”I--I don't know.” Pleasant grinned.

”Well, we better toss up fer it an' _atter they git hyeh_.” She did not understand his emphasis.

”Very well,” she a.s.sented carelessly.

Up the road came Ham Cage now, and down the road came King Camp--both with a rapid stride. Though both had sworn to shoot on sight, they had kept away from each other as they had promised, and now without speaking they glowered unwinking into each other's eyes. Nor did either ask a question when the little teacher, with two towels over one arm, led the way down the road, up over a little ridge, and down to a gra.s.sy hollow by the side of a tinkling creek. It was hard for the girl to believe that these two boys meant to shoot each other as they had threatened, but Pleasant had told her they surely would, and that fact held her purpose firm. Without a word they listened while she explained, and without a word both nodded a.s.sent--nor did they show any surprise when the girl repeated what she had told Pleasant Trouble and Lum Chapman.

”Jes' a plain ole square, stand-up an' knock-down fight,” murmured Pleasant consolingly, pulling forth a silver quarter, ”Heads--you wipe Ham; tails--you wipe King.” Miss Holden nodded, and for the first time the two lads turned their angry eyes from each other to the girl and yet neither asked a question. Tails it was, and the girl motioned King to a log on one side of the hollow, and Pleasant and Ham to another log on the other side. She handed Pleasant one of the towels, dropped her little watch into Lum's huge palm, and on second thought took it back again: it might get broken, and Lum might be too busy to keep time. Only Pleasant saw the gritting of Ham's teeth when she took her stand by King's side.

”Take off your coats!” she said sharply. The two obeyed swiftly.

”Time!” she called, and the two leaped for each other.

”Stop!” she cried, and they halted. ”I forgot--shake hands!”

Both shook their heads instead, like maddened bulls, and even Lum looked amazed; he even spoke:

”Whut's the use o' fightin', if they shakes hands?”

Miss Holden had no argument ready, and etiquette was waived. ”Time!”

she repeated, and then the two battering-rams, revolving their fists country-fas.h.i.+on, engaged. Half-forgotten Homeric phrases began to flit from a faraway schoolroom back into the little teacher's mind and she began to be consoled for the absence of gloves--those tough old ancients had used gauges of iron and steel. The two boys were evenly matched.

After a few thundering body blows they grew wary, and when the round closed their faces were unmarked, they had done each other no damage, and Miss Holden was thrilled--it wasn't so bad after all. Each boy grabbed his own towel and wiped the sweat off his own face.

”Git at it, Ham--git at it!” encouraged Pleasant, and Ham got at it.

He gave King a wallop on the jaw; King came back with a jolt on the chin, and the two embraced untenderly.