John, in a moment of less passion, would not have ventured to
attack a boy so near his own size. Like all bullies, he was
essentially a coward, but now his rage got the better of his
prudence.

"I'll flog you both!" he exclaimed hoarsely, and sprang forward
with upraised stick.

Frank was about half a head shorter than John, and was more than
a year younger, but he was stout and compactly built; besides, he
was cool and collected, and this is always an advantage.

Before John realized what had happened, his stick had flown from
his hand, and he was forcibly pushed back, so that he narrowly
escaped falling to the ground.

"Gib it to him, Mass' Frank!" shouted little Pomp. "Gib it to
him!"

This increased John's exasperation. By this time he was almost
foaming at the mouth.

"I'll kill you, Frank Frost," he exclaimed, this time rushing at
him without a stick.

Frank had been in the habit of wrestling for sport with the boys
of his own size. In this way he had acquired a certain amount of
dexterity in "tripping up." John, on the contrary, was
unpractised. His quick temper was so easily roused that other
boys had declined engaging in friendly contests with him, knowing