down to seize a prize, when they would go off, laughing uproarously, as
though they considered it a huge joke.

Paul was on the bully in a flash, and almost before Ted knew of his
presence he had torn the apple from his grasp and hurled it far away.

"Get out of this, you coward!" exclaimed the scout leader of the new
patrol, as he gave Ted Slavin a push; "I'm going to speak to the chief of
police about the way you rob this good woman, and see if he won't stop
it. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves, both of you!"

William and Bluff were for jumping at the two offenders, and giving them
a lesson then and there; but with both arms Paul held his fire-eaters
back.

"Let 'em come on, if they want to mix up with us. We can take care of
two, and think it a picnic. P'raps even three wouldn't be too much, if so
be you want to try it on, Paul Morrison. Huh! there comes another bunch
of your sissies. Seven against two might make it too interestin', so we'd
better skip out, Scissors. But you just wait, that's all. I don't forget
you laid a hand on me; and some time I'm going to take it out."

"Oh! suit yourself, Ted," answered the other, promptly. "I'm ready to
have a go at you when you're ready, if you force me to the wall. I'm not
a fighter, but when I see a couple of rowdies treating a poor old woman
like you did, it makes me see red."

With derisive jeers the pair faded away as several boys came running to
the spot, having seen the group, and guessing from the presence of the
two rival leaders that there must be something doing.