measures in handling so crafty and unprincipled a customer as the town
bully. He must be carried off his feet with the impetuosity of the
attack; and while still bewildered thoroughly punished. As Hugh had
well said he needed a lasting lesson. Perhaps after this Nick would
think twice before attacking a weaker boy, who might have a friend
capable and willing to take up cudgels in his behalf.

Nick flourished those big fists of his, and commenced to dance
tauntingly around as though meaning to enlist the admiration of his
cronies, who had never yet seen him come out of a battle second-best,
and therefore deemed him invincible.

Hugh leaped at him with fury glowing in his eyes. Some powerful fever
seemed to have utterly overwhelmed the boy. Thad and those others
stared as though they could not believe their vision. Was this
impetuous boy who struck down Nick's guard as though nothing could
restrain his attack, the same Hugh Morgan who on numerous occasions had
been known to arbitrate a dispute, and declare that it was not worth
getting into a temper over? A miracle seemed to have happened. The
sight of Nick's brutal treatment of Owen Dugdale must have transformed
Hugh into a merciless avenger. In that supreme moment he had
constituted himself the champion of all those lads in Scranton who, in
times past, had suffered cruel wrongs at the hands of the sneering
bully.

There was a furious exchange of blows. Nick knew how to fight, but on
this occasion something seemed to go wrong with his customary
programme. Why, when he hit out his hardest, and expected to see his
antagonist reeling back before the blow, to his consternation, it was
cleverly warded off, and the next instant something crashed against his