At least such had always been the case in the past.
Nick was not the only one doing the talking.

Hugh thought he several times caught the sound of a voice that might belong to Owen.

Then there were also others in the heated argument, some of them apparently egging the pugnacious Nick on, while yet a few more seemed to be trying to cast oil on troubled waters.
At least Owen was not alone with Nick and his ugly cronies, Hugh realized, though, after all, that would not count for much.

Fellows like Leon Disney and several others of the same stripe would be only too well pleased to pair off and attack any other boy who might show a disposition to interfere with the designs of their leader, the bully of the town, big blustering Nick Lang.
Faster still did Hugh and Thad run along.

They feared lest something happen before they could arrive on the spot.