?"

"Most distinctly I do, and I can prove my words."

Clyde was rather startled by this exhibition of pluck, which he had
not expected.

"You call me a bully--do you?"

"I do."

"Then we'll settle it here. Off with your coat," blustered Clyde, as
he divested himself.

"I never fight if I can help it; but I always defend myself," replied
Burchmore, resuming his walk towards the road.

"Do you mean to run away?" demanded Clyde.

"No; I mean to walk very leisurely back to the station-house."

"No, you don't!" said the Briton, again placing himself before the
cashier.

Ole, who did not care, under the circumstances, to be seen with
Burchmore by any one of the party, had disappeared by this time; but
meeting Sanford near the lake, he had informed him what Clyde was
doing. The coxswain hastened to the spot, with Stockwell and two or
three others. But they were a little too late; for Clyde, feeling that
he had gone too far to recede with honor, had struck Burchmore. When
Sanford and the rest of the party reached the place, the belligerent
Briton lay on the ground, where, after a sharp set-to and a black eye,
he had been thrown by his cool opponent. He picked himself up, and was
preparing for another onslaught, when the coxswain stepped between the
combatants.

"Enough of that, Albion," said he.

Clyde made a rush towards Burchmore, but the others interfered, and
held him back. In vain he struggled in his wrath, but the stout
coxswain and his companions threw him upon the ground, and held him
there till his anger had in a measure subsided.

"Be off, Burchmore," said Sanford. "We will take care of him."

"I am not afraid of him," replied the cashier.

"Of course you are not; but clear out, and let us have peace."

"He is afraid of me!" roared Clyde.

"Nonsense, Great Britain! He would have mauled you to death if we
hadn't interfered. He can whip his weight in wildcats."

Burchmore walked away, and soon disappeared beyond the houses. Clyde
foamed in his wrath for a while, but finally consented to be pacified,
promising, very faithfully, to whip the cashier the next time he
caught him alone.

"Don't you do it, Albion. You never will see your mother again if you
attempt it. Wait a few days, and then, if you insist upon it, we will
let Burchmore thrash you all you want," replied Sanford, as they
walked back to the station-house.

Clyde had a bad-looking eye, and perhaps believed that he had had a
narrow