r.
Keeping his eye upon him until he could catch him a little aside from
the other boys, when the favorable moment came, he suddenly dealt him a
severe blow, which nearly knocked him over, accompanying it with the
remark:

"There, take that for running down my little brother, when he was
coasting with my sled, the other day."

The other boy, without saying a word, sprang at Oscar, and, for a
moment or two, blows and kicks were freely exchanged. But though they
were about of a size, it was evident that Oscar was the stronger or
most resolute of the two, and his antagonist soon gave up the contest,
but not until he had been pretty roughly handled. Other boys soon came
flocking around, to whom Oscar explained the cause of the assault; but
his antagonist denied all knowledge of the affair for which Oscar had
attacked him. An angry war of words ensued, but the excitement finally
subsided without any further resort to blows, and Oscar returned home,
well pleased with his adventure.

One of Oscar's favorite winter amusements was skating. Early in
winter, as soon as the little pond on the Common was frozen over, he
might be seen gliding over the smooth ice; but later in the season,
when there was good skating on "Back Bay," he preferred that locality,
because of its greater extent. Tiger usually accompanied him in his
skating excursions, and seemed to enjoy the sport as much as his master
did. It was amusing to see him try to make a short turn, in running
upon the ice. He would slide some distance before he could change his
course. Oscar would often plague him, when he was in full chase after
his master, by suddenly turning upon his skates, and taking a contrary
direction, leaving Tiger to get back as he could.

But an event happened, one day, that almost wholly cured Tiger of his
fondness for this kind of sport. He was gaily tripping over the ice,
by the side of his young master, when the latter suddenly turned about,
and Tiger, in his haste to follow him, slid directly into an air-hole.
This was probably the first time he had enjoyed so extensive a cold
bath; and as he was not a water-dog, it is not surprising that he was
terribly frightened. His piteous cries brought Oscar to his relief,
who could not help laughing at the sorry plight in which he found his
half-drowned canine friend. He was floundering and paddling about in
the water, now lifting himself almost out, upon the edge of the ice,
and now slipping