"I don't want to fight, Danny," said Bert quietly.

"Huh! he's afraid!" sneered Jack Westly, one of Danny's friends.

"Yes, he's a coward!" taunted Danny.

"I'm not!" cried Bert stoutly.

"Then take that!" exclaimed Danny, and he gave Bert a push that
nearly knocked him down. Bert put out a hand to save himself and
struck Danny, not really meaning to.

"There! He hit you back!" cried one boy.

"Yes, go on in, now, Dan, and beat him!" said another

"Oh, I'll fix him now," boasted Danny, circling around Bert. Bert
was carefully watching. He did not mean to let Danny get the best
of him if he could help it, much as he did not like to fight.

Danny struck Bert on the chest, and Bert hit the bully on the
cheek. Then Danny jumped forward swiftly and tried to give Bert a
blow on the head. But Bert stepped to one side, and Danny slipped
down to the ground.

As he did so a white box fell from his pocket. Bert knew what kind
of a box it was, and what was in it, and he knew now, what had
stained Danny's fingers so yellow, and what made his clothes have
such a queer smell. For the box had in it cigarettes.