Page:De Amicis - Heart, translation Hapgood, 1922.djvu/196

168 he escorts every day from an institute in the Dora Grossa street.

My sister Sylvia, on leaving her schoolhouse, saw the whole affair, and came home thoroughly terrified. This is what took place. Franti, with his cap of waxed cloth tilted over one ear, ran up on tiptoe behind Stardi, and, in order to provoke him, gave a tug at his sister's braid of hair, a tug so violent that it almost threw her on the ground. The little girl uttered a cry; her brother whirled round. Franti, who is much taller and stronger than Stardi, thought:—

“He'll not utter a word, or I'll break his skin for him!”

But Stardi never stopped to think. Small and ill-made as he is, he flung himself with one bound on that big fellow, and began to beat him with his fists. He could not hold his own, however, and he got more than he gave. There was no one in the street but girls, so there was no one who could separate them. Franti flung him on the ground; but the other instantly got up, and then down he went on his back again, and Franti pounded away as though upon a door. In an instant he had torn away half an ear, and bruised one eye, and drawn blood from Stardi's nose. But Stardi was gritty; he roared:—

“You may kill me, but I'll make you pay for it!”

Down went Franti again, kicking and cuffing, and Stardi under him, butting and striking out with his heels. A woman cried from a window, “Good for the little one!” Others said, “It is a boy defending his sister; courage! give it to him well!” And they screamed at Franti, “You bully! you coward!” But