CHAPTER XXIV.
ANDY SHOWS HIS COURAGE "Stop that, Ritter! What do you mean by kicking Andy when he is down ?" It was Pepper who uttered these words, as he rushed up from the other side of the campus.
"I didn't kick him," retorted Ritter.

He was startled, for he had not anticipated being seen.
"You did!" "A fight! A fight!" was the cry, and soon a crowd of cadets began to collect.
Slowly Andy arose to his feet.

His face was pale, for both the blow on the chin and the kick in the side had been severe.
"You--you brute!" he gasped.

"You dirty brute!" "Hi, don't you call me a brute!" roared Ritter.
"You are a brute!" put in Pepper.

"No fair-minded chap would kick a fellow when he was down." "Ditmore, you keep out of this," grumbled the bully.
"I'm going to see that Andy has fair play," returned Pepper.
The encounter had occurred after Captain Putnam and the teachers had disappeared, so there was little chance of an interruption by the Hall authorities.
Andy stood up and tried to collect himself.