schoolboy, with an
unpleasant look in his freckled face, was blocking the way of the other,
who was short and plump and had an honest face with chubby, red cheeks.
The-bigger boy seemed to be nagging at the other with taunting words,
but by reason of the distance it was impossible to understand what he
said. After this had been going on for a while, the quarrel suddenly
broke out. Both boys dropped their portfolios to the ground; the little
chubby boy lowered his head, as though to ram his opponent in the
stomach, and then rushed at him.

"The big fellow there will soon have him in a fix," now said the
colonel, who was earnestly following the movements of the enemy, and who
seemed not to approve the tactics of the little chubby boy.

For whom he intended these words it would be hard to say; he spoke them
to himself without addressing any one of us.

His prediction was at once justified.

The big fellow dodged the onset of his enemy; the next moment he had
his left arm squeezed around the other's neck, so that the head of the
latter was caught as in a noose; he had him, as they say, "in chancery."
With his right hand he gripped the right fist of his opponent, who was
trying to pummel him with it on the back, and when he had regularly
trapped him and brought him completely under his power he dragged him
again and again round and about the lamp-post.

"Clumsy lad," muttered the old colonel, continuing his monologue,
"always to let himself get caught in that way." He was plainly
disappointed in the little chubby boy, and could not endure the long,
lanky one.

"They fight that way every day," he explained, noticing the waiter, to
whom he seemed willing to account for his interest in the matter.

Then he turned his face again toward the window. "Wonder if the little
one will turn up."

Scarcely had he mumbled this to the end when there came rushing from the
city park that adjoined the square a slender little slip of a lad.

"There he is," said the old colonel. He swallowed a mouthful of red wine
and stroked his beard.

The little fellow, who one felt sure by the resemblance must be a
brother of little Chubby Cheeks, but a finer and improved edition, ran
up, lifted high his portfolio with both hands and gave Long-Shanks a
blow on the back that resounded away over to where we sat.

"Bravo!" said the old colonel.

Long-Shanks kicked like a horse at this new assailant. Little-Boy
dodged, and the same instant Long-S