22 MARTIN RATTLER.

“Stop, stop!” cried Martin earnestly. “Bob
Croaker, I would rather do anything than fight. I
would give you everything I have to save my kitten;
but if you won’t spare it unless I fight, Pll do it.
If you throw it in before you fight me, you’re the
greatest coward that ever walked. Just give me
five minutes to breathe, and a drink of water, and
I'll fight you as long as I can stand.”

Bob looked at his little foe in surprise. “Well,
that’s fair. Tm your man; but if you don’t lick
me, I'l drown the kitten, that’s all.” Having said
this, he quietly divested himself of his jacket and
neckcloth, while several boys assisted Martin to do
the same, and brought him a draught of water in the
crown of one of their caps. In five minutes all was
ready, and the two boys stood face to face and foot
to foot, with their fists doubled, and revolving, and
a ring of boys around them.

Just at this critical moment the kitten, having
found the process of licking itself dry more fatiguing
than it had expected, gave vent to a faint mew of
distress. It was all that was wanting to set Martin’s
indignant heart into a blaze of inexpressible fury.
Bob Croaker’s visage instantly received a shower of
sharp, stinging blows, that had the double effect of

taking that youth by surprise and throwing him