d the white feather. Mrs.
Underhill couldn't endure cowards. She was angry, too, to see his nice
winter jacket in such a plight.

"Benny Frank, you just march out and thrash that Perkins boy, or I'll
thrash you! I don't care if you are almost as tall as I am. A great boy
of fifteen who can't take his own part! I should be ashamed! March
straight out!"

She took him by the shoulder and turned him round, whisked him out in
the area before he knew where he was. She would not have him so meek and
chicken-hearted.

Ben stood a moment in surprise. Jim had been scolded for his pugnacity.
Perkins was always worse when Jim wasn't around.

"Go on!" exclaimed his mother.

Ben walked out slowly. The boys were down the street. If they would only
go away. He passed the Whitneys and halted. He could rescue hounded cats
and tormented dogs, and once had saved a little child from being run
over. But to fight--in cold blood!

"Oh, here comes my Lady Jane!" sang out some one.

"She's quite too young--
To be ruled by your false, flattering tongue."

"Sissy, wouldn't your mother mend your coat? Keep out of the way of the
ragman!"

Perkins was balancing himself on one foot on the curbstone.

"Come on, Macduff!" he cried tragically.

Macduff came on with a quick step. Before the boys could think he strode
up to Perkins and with a well-directed blow landed him in the sloppy
debris of snow and mud, where the children had been making a pond. And
before he could recover Ben was upon him, roused to his utmost. The boys
were nearly of a size. They rolled over and over amid the plaudits of
their companions, and Ben, who hated dirt and mud and all untidiness,
didn't mind now. He kept his face pretty well out of the way, and
presently sat on his adversary and held one hand, grasping at the other.

The boys cheered. A fight was a fight, if it was between the best
friends you had.

"Beg," said Ben.

"I'll see you in Guinea first!"

Ben sat still. The kicks were futile. With such a heavy weight breathing
was a difficult matter.

"You--you--if you'd said fight I'd a-known----" and Perkins gasped.

"Oh, let up, Ben. You've licked him! We didn't think 'twas in you.
Come--fair play."

"There's a good deal in me," cried Ben sturdily. "And I'm going to sit
here all night till Perkins begs. I've a good seat. You boys keep out.
'Tisn't your fight. And you all know I hate fighting. It may do for wild
animals in a jungle."