ach you to make game of us!" cried Will as he strode forward.

Probably the snowball was not meant for him, but one thrown at that
moment by Jake struck Will full in the face.

CHAPTER XVII

A SNOW FIGHT

Alice Jallow screamed, and in this was joined by Kittie Rossmore. Then
both girls turned and fled. Possibly they anticipated what was coming,
for after the white flakes of the snowball had fallen from Will's face,
and the red, caused by the impact, had died out, he became white with
anger.

"What did you do that for, Jake Rossmore?" Will cried.

"I didn't mean to. You walked right into it!"

"A likely story. I'll fix you for that," and Will sprang forward.

To the credit of Jake and Sam, though this is not to be taken in any
sense as upholding fighting, the two boys did not turn back, though
out-numbered.

"You fellows are altogether too fresh!" declared Frank. "You go and set
a bear trap where you have no business to, and then you pelt us with
snowballs. We won't stand it!"

"Better go easy," advised Allen Washburn, though, truth, to tell, his
blood was also up. "Better go easy."

By this time Will had reached Jake, and aimed a blow at him. It fell
short, and was a mere tap, but Jake retaliated. He swung too wide, and
the next moment Will had pushed him into a snowbank. Jake was up again
in an instant, however, and there might have been a serious fistic
encounter had not Allen cried out:

"Here, fellows! This won't do!"

"But he pushed me!" cried Jake, with doubled fists, while Frank and Sam
were regarding each other with none too friendly eyes.

"Yes, and you hit me with a snowball first!" retorted Will. It was very
much like two children, but the boys did not realize it at the time.
Possibly Allen did.

"You'd better arbitrate," he suggested with a smile.

"I will not!" declared Will.

"Me either," added Jake.

"Then have a snowball fight--two on a side--I'll see fair play,"
suggested the young lawyer. "That will be a good way out of it. It will
relieve your feelings, and no one will be much hurt. Come, here's the
line," and he drew one in the snow. "Get your ammunition ready, and
I'll give the word. The side that first cries 'enough,' loses, and honor
is satisfied."

"I'm willing, if they are," said Frank.

"Yes," agreed Will.

"Go ahead," spoke Jake, and Sam nodded his assent.

"If we only had Mr. Blackford here we could have three on a side,"
remarked Will to Frank, as they m