"You won't have to wait long before you are black and blue,"
retorted Jack.

"Don't mind what he says, Jack," whispered Ida, fearful lest he
should leave her.

"Don't be afraid, Ida; I won't leave you; I guess he won't trouble
us another day."

Meanwhile the boy, emboldened by Jack's passiveness, followed, with
more abuse of the same sort. If he had been wiser, he would have
seen a storm gathering in the flash of Jack's eye; but he mistook
the cause of his forbearance.

The next day, as they were again going to school, Ida saw the same
boy dodging round the corner, with his head bound up.

"What's the matter with him, Jack?" she asked.

"I licked him like blazes, that's all," said Jack, quietly.

"I guess he'll let us alone after this."






CHAPTER VIII.