whip; and I saw him give the horse quite a blow. No doubt he was
imitating his father in doing that. The spirited beast started
rearing, and then acted as if about to make a dash down the street. It
would have been putting the child's life in danger, you can easily see.

"I started to run, but never could have made it. Then I saw some one
jump for the horse's head, and have a little tussle with the animal.
It was Nick Lang. He hadn't stopped to think of any danger to himself.
I drew up and watched him. He conquered the beast, fastened him to a
hitching post, and then started to scold the white-faced little boy for
having touched the whip. The bully was showing in his nature, after
all, that splendid exhibition of nerve and quick wit.

"Nick noticed me then, for the first time, and acted confused, as if
caught doing something he would not like folks to know. He shook his
finger in the boy's face again threateningly, gave me a sneering look,
and then stalked along down the street whistling like anything. And,
Thad, the boy who could do a thing like that off-hand can't be quite
_all_ bad, though people oughtn't to be blamed for thinking he is.
So-long, Thad!"




CHAPTER X

A VISITOR FROM BELLEVILLE HIGH

On the following afternoon, which chanced to be Tuesday, more boys than
before appeared at the recreation grounds for practice. Mr. Leonard