登陆注册
5200800000004

第4章

"Say -- if you give me much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a rock off'n your head.""Oh, of course you will."

"Well I will."

"Well why don't you do it then? What do you keep saying you will for? Why don't you do it? It's because you're afraid.""I ain't afraid."

"You are."

"I ain't."

"You are."

Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other.Presently they were shoulder to shoulder.Tom said:

"Get away from here!"

"Go away yourself!"

"I won't."

"I won't either."

So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with hate.But neither could get an advantage.After struggling till both were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, and Tom said:

"You're a coward and a pup.I'll tell my big brother on you, and he can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too.""What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger than he is -- and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." [Both brothers were imaginary.]

"That's a lie."

"Your saying so don't make it so."

Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said:

"I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand up.Anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep."The new boy stepped over promptly, and said:

"Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it.""Don't you crowd me now; you better look out.""Well, you said you'd do it -- why don't you do it?""By jingo! for two cents I will do it."

The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out with derision.Tom struck them to the ground.In an instant both boys were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and clothes, punched and scratched each other's nose, and covered themselves with dust and glory.Presently the confusion took form, and through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and pounding him with his fists."Holler 'nuff!" said he.

The boy only struggled to free himself.He was crying -- mainly from rage.

"Holler 'nuff!" -- and the pounding went on.

At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up and said:

"Now that'll learn you.Better look out who you're fooling with next time."The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather, and as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like an antelope.Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he lived.He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the window and declined.At last the enemy's mother appeared, and called Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away.So he went away; but he said he "'lowed" to "lay" for that boy.

He got home pretty late that night, and when he climbed cautiously in at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in its firmness.

同类推荐
  • 佛说自爱经

    佛说自爱经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 贤劫十六尊

    贤劫十六尊

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 怀华阳润卿博士三首

    怀华阳润卿博士三首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西升经

    西升经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Christ in Flanders

    Christ in Flanders

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 克苏鲁游戏

    克苏鲁游戏

    这是个有着克苏鲁神话背景的游戏世界,一切都是为了活下去。所以,立场奇怪点,很合理。那么……欢迎来到……克苏鲁的游戏世界。*************PS:任何你熟悉的地点和名字都和现实无关,以上。PPS:群号.757921257
  • 重返十八岁

    重返十八岁

    原以为重生到十八岁,是让她来谈谈情说说爱,斗斗极品赚赚钱的,万万没想到,如玉少年倒是勾搭上了,可是麻烦却也惹上门了。偶遇读心少年,目睹死亡瞬间,成为杀人犯的目标,刘夏怒了,这是什么见了鬼的重生?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 贤妻造反

    贤妻造反

    前世为贤妻,却遇中山狼。 杜霜醉善良一世,却不得善终,醒来后她自问:以德报怨,何以报德?
  • 卡夫卡奖获奖作品:受活

    卡夫卡奖获奖作品:受活

    在一个叫受活庄的地方,这是一个遗世独立、鲜为人知的村落,所有村民都天生残疾,视健全者为另类。主人公柳县长异想天开,想用重金购买列宁的遗体以发展旅游经济,于是,这个由残疾人组成的村庄开始了走向外部世界的不归路:村民们组建了绝术团,在柳县长的带领下红遍方圆百里。
  • 近代战争

    近代战争

    军事历史是我们了解人类发展的主要窗口。军事与政治向来是相伴相随的,军事历史是政治历史的演绎,也是政治历史发展的高潮。任何一个朝代或者一个国家的开始与终极,都是伴随着军事战争的开始或终极。军事历史使政治历史更加集中清晰,更加丰富与生动。我们要了解历史发展的概貌,首先就要了解军事历史发展的脉络。
  • 巧吃食物治百病

    巧吃食物治百病

    “民以食为天”,这句俗语的意思不仅仅是说食物可以饱腹,其实它还可以养生和治病。食物大致分为谷类、豆类、蔬菜类、水果类、干果类、肉禽蛋类、水产类以及调味料、饮品等类别,其中所包含的具体食物数不胜数,它们用各自所含的不同营养素支撑着身体机能的正常运行,并可以有效抵抗各种疾病对人体的侵害,达到调理、医治的作用。本书以维护身体健康为目的,努力做到将各种食物的属性、养生及治疗功效准确、科学、细致的讲解给读者,并在每种食物下罗列了百余种家常菜谱,让读者可以在简便易行的美食中获得健康。可以说,本书就是读者科学养生、正确食疗的指导老师,真可谓“一书在手,健康不愁!”
  • Joe Wilson and His Mates

    Joe Wilson and His Mates

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 渣王走开:王妃要改嫁

    渣王走开:王妃要改嫁

    苏妙,世界著名女总裁,好不容易挤出时间度个假,却遭遇游轮失事,一朝清醒成为了睿王府不受宠的傻王妃,头破血流昏倒在地都没有人管。世人皆知,相府嫡长女苏妙妗,懦弱狭隘,除了一张脸,简直是个毫无实处的废物!苏妙妗笑了:老娘天下最美!我有颜值我人性!“王妃,王爷今晚又宿在侧妃那里了!”“哦。”某人头也不抬,清点着自己的小金库。“王妃,您的庶妹声称怀了王爷的骨肉!”“知道了。”某人吹了吹新做的指甲,面不改色。“王妃,王爷今晚宣您侍寝,已经往这边过来啦!”“什么!”某人大惊失色:“快,为我梳妆打扮,画的越丑越好……”某王爷:……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 最强龙皇系统

    最强龙皇系统

    【火爆精品】敖空重生西游,意外的成为了东海龙王第十一太子,孙悟空已经学艺归来,马上就要大闹东海,该怎么办?没事儿,有最强龙皇系统,一切皆有可能!拳打天庭,脚踢灵山,日子过得不要太潇洒!
  • 御天杀尊

    御天杀尊

    老子是放羊的!老子是混世魔王!怀揣一颗童心,肩负拯救亲人的使命,郭振宇孤身踏入江湖。少年心性,快意恩仇。不服输,不信邪,崇尚武力与智谋。我的就是我的,你的也是我的,只要是好东西,谁敢争夺与谁玩命!无论是谁,敢当面言说“不可能”,必遭杖责,美其名曰“大展宏图”!杀所必杀之人,刀头嗜血以为乐;追求杀伐之路,晋身一代杀王!推崇武力至尊,颠覆传统理念,武道和王道并举,终悟天道。