"That may be to-morrow or the next day." "I suppose," Dick went on angrily, "you think you have a perfect right to stay here and to go on stealing our food ?" "You call me a thief, do you ?" flared Fred.
"Do you consider yourself any better ?" Dick asked.

He was at white heat, fighting mad, and cared little what he said to these rowdyish intruders.
"Grab 'em, fellows!" ordered Fred, making a leap at Dick, while the other intruders rose from their places at table.
But Dick's right fist landed on Ripley's face, leaving a big, red mark there, while Dave's ready foot tripped the bully, sending him to the floor.

Ripley was on his feet again in a twinkling.
"Get back, Ripley!" ordered Dick, making a dash at him.

"See here, you rowdy, I'm smaller than you are, but I'm willing to go outdoors with you and see if I can't teach you some manners." "And I'll take pleasure in introducing myself to Bert Dodge at the same time," announced Darrin, his eyes flashing.
"I'll do my best with any other tough who'll oblige me," added Tom Reade.
"Bullies, toughs, rowdies, are we ?" raged Fred Ripley, on his guard, though just prudent enough to keep out of reach of Dick's fists.

There was a look in Prescott's eyes that the lawyer's self-willed son didn't wholly like.
"You fellows know just what you are," Dick went on bitterly.