"D-d-don't you dare hit me with that whip," warned Pepper as Jim
snapped the whip close to him, "or you will wish you hadn't."

"Aw, what would you do?" retorted Jim, tauntingly flourishing the
lash dangerously close to Pepper's face. "You ain't big enough to
scare me baby brother."

"You had better not try it, Jim Rae," asserted Pepper, "or I'll
pull you out of there so quick that you will think a cyclone struck
you."

"You mean a wind bag, don't you?" sneered Jim, aiming a blow at
Pepper, who now loosened his hold upon the horse's bridle to jump
toward the wagon, whereupon Jim changed his purpose and struck
the horse with the whip. With a loud "giddap" they started with a
bound, missing Pepper by a hair's breadth, and driving on down the
road at a rattling pace.

"That's a regular m-monkey trick, Jim Rae, all right!" shouted
Pepper. "but I'll get even with you yet!"

The only answer of the boys in the wagon was a taunting laugh
as they drove away. Randolph and Donald had taken no part in the
controversy, not exactly approving of Pepper's disputing with the
enemy, but they had stood at hand ready for any emergency should
one arise.