there were also others in the heated argument, some of them apparently
egging the pugnacious Nick on, while yet a few more seemed to be trying
to cast oil on troubled waters.

At least Owen was not alone with Nick and his ugly cronies, Hugh
realized, though, after all, that would not count for much. Fellows
like Leon Disney and several others of the same stripe would be only
too well pleased to pair off and attack any other boy who might show a
disposition to interfere with the designs of their leader, the bully of
the town, big blustering Nick Lang.

Faster still did Hugh and Thad run along. They feared lest something
happen before they could arrive on the spot. Both of them were grimly
resolved that they would never stand by and see that overgrown fellow
abuse a smaller boy like Owen.

As they drew nearer, they discovered that Owen was trying to stand up
for his action. He seemed to be declaring that any fellow had a
perfect right to ask a girl to accompany him to a dance, and if she did
not wish to accept she would say so. He was not trying to cut anybody
out, and if Peggy Noland would rather go home with another fellow,
Nick, for instance, she had only to say so. But so long as she gave
him to understand that she preferred to have him for an escort, he did
not mean to be driven away by anybody, no matter if they were twice his
size.

Somehow, when Hugh caught the drift of what Owen was saying, his heart
burned within him, for he realized that the boy was made of the right
kind of stuff. In build and muscular ability he was no match for Nick
Lang; but evidently his courage was equal to any test; and it is that