I just had to do it, that's all there is to it.

And, Owen, old chap, I'm mighty glad I happened to be around to give you a helping hand." Owen Dugdale had watched all this exciting happening with varied emotions.

Each time his detested oppressor had gone crashing to the earth, he seemed to feel his own injuries less and less.

When the fight was over, and Nick had received such a decided thrashing, Owen felt like dancing around.

He was a boy, every inch of him, with all a boy's feelings; and Nick had humiliated him dreadfully, as well as taken a mean advantage over him on account of his superior strength.
"I'm a thousand times obliged to you, Hugh!" cried the grateful Owen, wringing the other's hand vigorously; "of course this winds up my evening's pleasure, and I was enjoying myself more than any time in my whole life." "Why should it put a stop to your fun ?" demanded Hugh.