show a
disposition to interfere with the designs of their leader, the bully of
the town, big blustering Nick Lang.

Faster still did Hugh and Thad run along. They feared lest something
happen before they could arrive on the spot. Both of them were grimly
resolved that they would never stand by and see that overgrown fellow
abuse a smaller boy like Owen.

As they drew nearer, they discovered that Owen was trying to stand up
for his action. He seemed to be declaring that any fellow had a
perfect right to ask a girl to accompany him to a dance, and if she did
not wish to accept she would say so. He was not trying to cut anybody
out, and if Peggy Noland would rather go home with another fellow,
Nick, for instance, she had only to say so. But so long as she gave
him to understand that she preferred to have him for an escort, he did
not mean to be driven away by anybody, no matter if they were twice his
size.

Somehow, when Hugh caught the drift of what Owen was saying, his heart
burned within him, for he realized that the boy was made of the right
kind of stuff. In build and muscular ability he was no match for Nick
Lang; but evidently his courage was equal to any test; and it is that
makes the man, not his physique alone.

"Bully for Owen!" Thad could be heard muttering between his pants as he
raced along; "if that big coward strikes him, he's going to answer to
me for it, no matter what happens."

Now that was just what was passing through Hugh's mind at the same
moment. True, a social hop might be one of the last places in the wide
world for a boy to allow himself to be drawn into a brutal fight; but
if his hand were forced by Nick Lang everything else must be forgotten,
Hugh decided.

Somehow, he felt better after that. He could even think of his mother
without any burning regret and shame, for had she not impressed it upon
his mind years back that no matter how averse a boy may be to entering
a fist fight, when it is in defense of a girl, or a smaller lad, he is
perfectly justified in so doing, putting aside all his scruples, even
his sacred promise to his mother.

Matters were now getting pretty close to the breaking point. They
could hear Nick ranting as to what he ought to do to a fellow who
played him such a trick as to come between him and the girl he had
always taken to hops and singing school.

"Do you know what I got a good mind to do to you, sonny?" he roared,
and doubtless added emphasis to