for a long time, I guess."

There is a saying to the effect that "rats desert a sinking ship"; and
when Nick's hour for defeat arrived, even these hitherto admiring
cronies threatened to turn their backs on him.

Aroused by this taunt, he scrambled to his feet. Nick was a sight
indeed with his face bloody, and one of his eyes giving evidence of
going into mourning. He snarled something at Leon with a degree of his
one-time ferocity, and the other turned back to assist him off the
field. Nick stopped to look back. He made no threat, but the
malevolence in that stare toward Hugh told better than words would have
done what bitterness was in his heart. No town bully is dethroned
without his hating the object of his humiliation. Hugh had better be
on his guard, for every one knew that Nick Lang would never rest until
he had at least tried to even up the score.

Hugh calmly put on his garments again. Thad and the others were
voicing their admiration for his recent gallant deed, but somehow their
praise seemed to grate on the boy's nerves.

"Please don't keep on saying those things, fellows," he begged them,
presently. "I know you mean it in kindness, but I'd rather try and
forget this unpleasant business. I had to break a promise tonight, and
it hurts ten times worse than any of the few cracks Nick got in at me.
But then my mother always told me she would not for worlds have me
stand by and see a bully injure one weaker than himself. I just had to
do it, that's all there is to it. And, Owen, old chap, I'm mighty glad
I happened to be around to give you a helping hand."

Owen Dugdale had watched all this exciting happening with varied
emotions. Each time his detested oppressor had gone crashing to the
earth, he seemed to feel his own injuries less and less. When the
fight was over, and Nick had received such a decided thrashing, Owen
felt like dancing around. He was a boy, every inch of him, with all a
boy's feelings; and Nick had humiliated him dreadfully, as well as
taken a mean advantage over him on account of his superior strength.

"I'm a thousand times obliged to you, Hugh!" cried the grateful Owen,
wringing the other's hand vigorously; "of course this winds up my
evening's pleasure, and I was enjoying myself more than any time in my
whole life."

"Why should it put a stop to your fun?" demanded Hugh. "What if you
have got a bloody nose, and a lump on your forehead. See here how my
knuckles are b