Indeed, he appeared almost to welcome rough handling, especially from the young men and boys bigger than himself.

Light in weight and not very muscular, he was wiry and quick in eye and in action, and under his father's teaching he learned how to "make his heels save his head." He was always ready for a go with any one who might offer, and when all others had wearied of the sport Larry would put in an extra half hour with the punching bag.

With one boy only he refused to spar.

No persuasion, no taunts, no challenge could entice him to put on the gloves with Mop Cheatley.

He could never look steadily at Mop for any length of time without seeing again on his face the sneering grin and hearing again the terrible words spoken two years ago in the cedar woods behind the mill pond: "You're a coward and your mother's a coward before you." He refused to spar with Mop for he knew that once face to face with him he could not spar, he must fight.