Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/216

194 nobody," said one boy, but in such a low tone that only a few friends heard the remark.

"Dave, don't fight in here—arrange for a meeting later," urged Phil again. "This is no place for it. Somebody may come in, and——"

Phil had no time to say more, for Gus Plum was dancing around wildly. Now he let out with his right fist, and struck Dave on the shoulder.

It was the last straw, and casting prudence to the winds Dave assailed his foe with vigor. He struck the bully on the arm and in the chest, and then the two clinched and wrestled over a large portion of the gymnasium floor. Then they broke away again, and Dave was hit in the ear, and landed a telling blow on the bully's right eye.

"Cheese it! cheese it!" came the cry from a boy standing near the open door. "Here comes old Haskers!"

The cry was taken up by others. The second assistant teacher heard it, and at once, surmising that something was wrong, started toward the gymnasium on a run.

"I'll meet you some other time," growled Gus Plum, just as the teacher put in an appearance.

"All right—whenever you are ready I'll be," answered Dave, and then he and Phil hurried in one direction, while the bully and Macklin hurried in another.