Ferdy had received that day a letter from his mother which stated that Louise Caldwell’s mother was making a set at Norman for her daughter.  Ferdy’s jealousy was set on edge, and he now began to talk about Norman.  Rhodes sniffed at the sneering mention of his name, and Gordon, whose face still wore a surly look, pricked up his ears.

“You need not always be cracking Norman up,” said Wickersham to Rhodes.  “You would not be if I were to tell you what I know about him.  He is no better than anybody else.”

“Oh, he is better than some, Ferdy,” said Mr. Rhodes.  Gordon gave an appreciative grunt which drew Ferdy’s eyes on him.

“You think so too, Keith, I suppose?” he said.  “Well, you needn’t.  You need not be claiming to be such a friend of his.  He is not so much of a friend of yours, I can tell you.  I have heard him say as many mean things about you as any one.”

It was Gordon’s opportunity.  He had been waiting for one.

“I don’t believe it.  I believe it’s a lie,” he declared, his face whitening as he gathered himself together.  His eyes, which had been burning, had suddenly begun to blaze.

Mr. Rhodes looked up.  He said nothing, but his eyes began to sparkle.

“You’re a liar yourself,” retorted Wickersham, turning red.

Gordon reached for him.  “Take it back!” At the same moment Rhodes sprang and caught him, but not quite in time.  The tip of Gordon’s fingers as he slapped at Ferdy just reached the latter’s cheek and left a red mark there.

“Take it back,” he said again between his teeth as Rhodes flung his arm around him.

For answer Ferdy landed a straight blow in his face, making his nose bleed and his head ring.

“Take that!”

Gordon struggled to get free, but in vain.  Rhodes with one arm swept Wickersham back.  With the other he held Gordon in an iron grip.  “Keep off, or I will let him go,” he said.

The boy ceased writhing, and looked up into the young man’s face.  “You had just as well let me go.  I am going to whip him.  He has told a lie on my friend, who saved my life.  And he’s hit me.  Let me go.”  He began to whimper.

“Now, look here, boys,” said Rhodes; “you have got to stop right here and make up.  I won’t have this fighting.”

“Let him go.  I can whip him,” said Ferdy, squaring himself, and adding an epithet.

Gordon was standing quite still.  “I am going to fight him,” he said, “and whip him.  If he whips me, I am going to fight him again until I do whip him.”

Mr. Rhodes’s face wore a puzzled expression.  He looked down at the sturdy face with its steady eyes, tightly gripped mouth, and chin which had suddenly grown squarer.

“If I let you go will you promise not to fight?”

“I will promise not to fight him here if he will come out behind the barn,” said Gordon.  “But if he don’t, I’m going to fight him here.  I am going to fight him and I am going to whip him.”