You know you fought shy when I spoke about it before." And Bobby, notwithstanding the interest he felt in his companion, was a little disposed to "fight shy" now.

Tom had reformed, or had pretended to do so; but he was still a raw recruit, and our hero was somewhat fearful that he would run at the first fire.
To the good and true man life is a constant battle.

Temptation assails him at almost every point; perils and snares beset him at every step of his mortal pilgrimage, so that every day he is called upon to gird on his armor and fight the good fight.
Bobby was no poet; but he had a good idea of this every-day strife with the foes of error and sin that crossed his path.

It was a practical conception, but it was truly expressed under the similitude of a battle.

There was to be resistance, and he could comprehend that, for his bump of combativeness took cognizance of the suggestion.