"Come right on to the shore, then, and don't try any bluffing." But Ben Alvord didn't care about putting up his guard before either of these spirited youngsters of the Central Grammar School.

After sputtering a little Ben skated away by himself.

Hen got up, after dabbing his upper lip with his handkerchief and finding that the scratch amounted to nothing.

No further effort was made to molest Hen.
"Now, when you talk, say something pleasant.

Don't talk so disagreeably all the time," advised Prescott in a low tone.