He did not like that cool, independent way of the refractory vassal; it warned him to be cautious.
"What's the matter, Katy ?" asked Tommy, as he came with quick pace up the court, without deigning to cast even a glance at the ruffian who menaced her.
"Stand by, fellers, and see fair play, and I'll lick him now," said Johnny, in a low tone, to his companions.
"He won't let me go," replied Katy, pointing to her assailant.
"Go ahead, Katy; don't mind him." "Won't you give me some candy ?" said Johnny, stepping up before her again.
"Go ahead, Katy," repeated Tommy, placing himself between her and the bully.

"Don't mind him, Katy." As she advanced, Johnny pushed forward, and made another dive at the tray, but Katy's champion caught him by the arm and pulled him away.
"You mind out!" growled the bully, doubling up his fists, and placing himself in the most approved attitude, in front of the unwhipped vassal.
"Go ahead, Katy; clear out as fast as you can," said Tommy, who, though his bosom swelled with indignation, still preserved his wonted coolness; and it was evident to the excited spectators that he did not intend to "mind out." "Come on, if you want to fight!" shouted Johnny, brandishing his fists.
"I don't want to fight; but you are a mean, dirty blackguard, or you wouldn't have treated a girl like that," replied Tommy, standing as stiff as a stake before the bully.
"Say that again, and I'll black your eye for you." "Once is enough, if you heard me; but I will tell your father about it." "Will you?
Just say that again." Somehow, it often happens that bullies want a person to say a thing over twice, from which we infer that they must be very deaf or very stupid.

Tommy would not repeat the offensive remark, and Johnny's supporters began to think he was not half so anxious to fight as he seemed, which was certainly true.

I have no doubt, if they had been alone, he would have found a convenient excuse for retiring from the field, leaving it unsullied by a black eye or a bloody nose.
My young friends will excuse me from digressing so far as to say that, in more than a dozen years with boys, in school and out, I have never heard of such a thing as two boys getting up a fight and having it out alone.

There must be a crowd of bruisers and "scallewags" around, to keep up the courage of the combatants.