Whistler hesitated for a moment between the contending impulses of
obedience and manliness; and then, drawing himself up to his full
stature, he said, with a respectful but decided air:

"No, sir, I have n't injured him, and I won't run away from him."

"Well said, well said--you are a brave little fellow," continued the
gentleman, somewhat surprised at the turn the affair was taking. "What
is your name, sir?"

"William Davenport."

"And what is this boy's name?"

"Oscar," replied Willie, and there he stopped, as if unwilling to
expose further the name of his abuser.

"Well you may go now, Oscar," said the gentleman, relinquishing his
hold; "but if you lay your hands on William again, I shall complain of
you."

The two boys walked off in opposite directions, the gentleman keeping
an eye upon Oscar until Whistler was out of his reach.

A little knot of boys was drawn together by the circumstance just
related, among whom was George, Oscar's youngest brother. He witnessed
the attack, but knew nothing of its cause. As he went directly home,
while Oscar did not, he had an opportunity to report to his mother and
Ralph the scene he had just beheld. Ralph now related to his mother