p with his hands in his
pockets, his head craned forward as usual, and his eyes trying to get
along faster than his head.

"See here," said he, "if that new boy boards with the teacher, he's
going to tell everything he knows. I think somebody ought to let him
know what he'll get if he tries that little game. I'm not going to be
told on: I have a rough enough time of it now." Bert spoke feelingly,
for he was that afternoon to remain at school until he had recited from
memory four pages of history, as a punishment for his long truancy.

"Who's going to tell him, though?" asked Sam. "It should be some fellow
big enough to take care of himself, for Grayson looks as if he could be
lively."

[Illustration: "JUST IN TIME TO SEE GRAYSON GIVE BERT A BLOW ON THE
CHEST."]

"I'll do it myself," declared Bert, savagely; saying which he lounged
over toward the ring at which Benny and Grayson were playing. The boys
had seen Bert in such a mood before, so at once there was some whispered
cautions to look out for a fight. Before Bert had been a minute beside
the ring, Grayson accidentally brushed against him as, half stooping, he
followed his alley across the ring. Bert immediately got his hands out
of his pockets, and struck Grayson a blow on the back of the neck that
felled him to the ground. All the boys immediately rushed to the spot,
but before they had reached it the new pupil was on his feet, and the
teacher reached the window, bell in hand, just in time to see Grayson
give Bert a blow on the chest that caused the young man to go reeling
backward, and yell "Oh!" at the top of his voice. Then the bell rang
violently, and all of the boys but Bert Sharp hurried up stairs, Grayson
not even taking the trouble to look behind him. In the scramble toward
the seats Will Palmer found a chance to whisper to Ned Johnston,
"There's no nonsense about him, eh?"

And Ned replied, "He's splendid."

All of the boys seemed of Ned's opinion, for when Mr. Morton, just as
Bert Sharp entered, rang the school to order, and asked, "Who began that
fight?" there was a general reply of, "Bert Sharp."

"Sharp, Grayson, step to the front," commanded the teacher.

Bert shuffled forward with a very sullen face, while Grayson stalked up
so bravely that Benny Mallow risked getting a mark by kicking Sam
Wardwell's feet under the desk to attract his attention, and then
whispering, "Just look at that."

Before the teacher could speak to either of the two