'Lisha swung about in a panic, but Jerome launched himself upon his averted shoulder.

The girls, glancing back with terrified eyes from the school-house door, seemed to see the boy lift the grown man from the ground, and the two whirl a second in the air before they crashed down, and so declared afterwards.

Jerome clung to his opponent like a wild-cat, a small but terrific body all made up of nerves and muscles and electric fire.

He wound his arms with a violent jerk as of steel around 'Lisha's neck; he bunted him with a head like a cannon-ball; he twisted little wiry legs under the hollows of 'Lisha's knees.

The two came down together with a great thud.