They came to a stand a short distance away and yelled taunting oaths at the boy with the chronic sneer.

The latter, momentarily, paid no attention to them.
"What deh hell, Jimmie ?" he asked of the small champion.
Jimmie wiped his blood-wet features with his sleeve.
"Well, it was dis way, Pete, see! I was goin' teh lick dat Riley kid and dey all pitched on me." Some Rum Alley children now came forward.

The party stood for a moment exchanging vainglorious remarks with Devil's Row.

A few stones were thrown at long distances, and words of challenge passed between small warriors.

Then the Rum Alley contingent turned slowly in the direction of their home street.