"Just look at that! Merwell, keep your eyes open, or you'll git knocked into a jelly!" The former bully of Oak Hall was staggered, but only for a moment.

Then, with a hoarse cry of rage, he leaped at Dave, and for fully a minute the blows came thick and fast from each side.

Then the pair clinched, swung around and around, and finally went down, with Dave on top.
"Break away there!" sang out Hank Snogger, and caught Dave by the ear.
"Git up off him!" "Leave Porter alone!" yelled Sid Todd, and caught Snogger by the hair.
"This is the boys' fight, 'tain't yours." "That's right! That's right!" came from several.

"Leave the kids alone." "He ain't goin' to hit Link when he's down," growled Snogger.
"I don't intend to," answered Dave, and got up.

He turned to Hank Snogger.