than he is and what s more, he can throw him over that fence, too.
[Both brothers were imaginary.]
That s a lie.
_Your_ saying so don t make it so.
Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said:
I dare you to step over that, and I ll lick you till you can t stand
up. Anybody that ll take a dare will steal sheep.
The new boy stepped over promptly, and said:
Now you said you d do it, now let s see you do it.
Don t you crowd me now; you better look out.
Well, you _said_ you d do it why don t you do it?
By jingo! for two cents I _will_ do it.
The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out
with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys
were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and
for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other s hair and
clothes, punched and scratched each other s nose, and covered themselves
with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and through the
fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and pounding him
with his fists. Holler nuff! said he.
The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying mainly from rage.
Holler nuff! and the pounding went on.
At last the stranger got out a smothered Nuff! and Tom let him up and
said:
Now that ll learn you. Better look out who you re fooling with next
time.
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