CHAPTER II
A FRIEND INTERFERES
"Oh," gasped Betty, "it's Ap Plunkit!"
"Yes," added Fred, "and he's as mad as a hornet."
Applethwaite Plunkit was the son of a farmer who lived a short distanceout of town. He was older and larger than the rest of the boys gatheredon the station platform, and they all disliked him thoroughly because ofhis mean and ugly disposition.
Bobby and Fred had had several squabbles with him when he had attemptedto bully them, but their quarrels had never yet got to the point of anactual fight. But just now, as he strode up to them, it looked as thougha fight were coming.
Bobby was a plucky boy, and though he never went around looking fortrouble, he was always willing and able to take his own part when itbecame necessary. But Ap was a great deal bigger and heavier than he,and just now had the advantage of the whip. So that Bobby's breath camea little faster as Ap came nearer. But he never thought of retreating,and faced the bully with an outward calm that he was very far fromfeeling.
"Which one of you fellows hit my horse?" demanded Ap, in a voice thattrembled with rage.
"I did," replied Bobby, stepping forward a little in advance of thegroup.
"What did you do it for?" cried Ap, at the same time raising his whip.
"I didn't aim at the horse," replied Bobby. "I was trying to hit a rockon the other side of the road."
"I don't believe it," snarled the bully.
"I can't help whether you believe it or not," answered Bobby. "It's thetruth."
"You needn't think you're going to crawl out of it that way," Ap snappedback. "You hit my horse on purpose and now I'm going to hit you."
He lifted his whip higher to make good his threat. Bobby's fistsclenched and his eyes glowed.
"Don't you touch me with that whip, Ap Plunkit," he warned, "or it willbe the worse for you."
"You bet it will!" cried Fred, rushing forward. "You touch Bobby andwe'll all pitch into you."
"That's what!" ejaculated Mouser.
"Sure thing," added Pee Wee, who, though lazy and hard to rouse, wasalways loyal to his friends.
For a moment it seemed as though a general scrimmage could not beavoided, and the girls gave little frightened shrieks.
Ap hesitated.
"Four against one," he muttered sarcastically. "You're a plucky lot, youare."
"Throw down that whip and any one of us will tackle you," cried Fredhotly, his fiery temper getting the better of him.
But just then a diversion came from a new quarter.
A boy who was just about equal to Ap in age and weight, who had a lot offreckles, a snub nose, a jolly Irish face and a crop of red hair thatrivaled Fred's own, pushed his way through the crowd that had gathered.
"It's Pat Moriarty," cried Betty in relief.
"Hello, Bobby! Hello, Fred!" called out the newcomer cheerily. "What'sthe rumpus here?"
"It's this Ap Plunkit," explained Bobby. "I hit his horse with asnowball by accident."
"And the big coward's brought his whip over to get even," volunteeredFred.
"To git even is it," said Pat, as his eyes fell on the bully, who wasbeginning to move backward. "Well, I'll give him the chanst."
He went over rapidly to Ap.
"Why don't you tackle a feller of your size?" he asked scornfully. "Likeme, fur instance?"
"You keep out of this," muttered Ap uneasily.
"Keep out of it!" jeered Pat pugnaciously. "A Moriarty never keeps outof a scrap when he sees a big feller pickin' on a little one."
With a sudden movement he snatched Ap's whip and threw it on the ground.
Resentment flared up in Ap's eyes.
While the two antagonists stand glaring at each other, it may be well,for the benefit of those who have not followed the fortunes andadventures of Bobby Blake from the beginning, to give a brief outline ofthe preceding volumes in this series.
Bobby was the only child of his parents, who resided in the littleinland town of Clinton. Although their hearts were bound up in theirson, they had been sensible enough not to spoil him, and he had growninto a bright, manly boy, full of fun and frolic, and a general favoriteamong the boys of the town.
Fred Martin, whose family lived only a few doors away from the Blakes,was Bobby's closest friend and companion. The boys were very differentin temperament, and it was this very unlikeness, perhaps, which had madethem chums. Fred had a hot temper which was constantly getting him intoscrapes, and Bobby, who was much cooler and more self-controlled, waskept busy a good deal of the time in getting his friend out of trouble.They seldom had any differences between themselves and were almostconstantly together.
Mr. Blake was once suddenly called to South America on business, and itwas arranged that Mrs. Blake should go with him. What to do with Bobbyduring their absence gave them a good many anxious moments. They finallydecided to send him to Rockledge School, of which they had heardexcellent reports, and to Bobby's great delight, Mr. Martin consented tolet Fred go with him.
The school opened a new world for the boys. They had to study hard, buta lot of fun was mixed in with the work and they had many excitingadventures. They formed warm friendships, but there were two or threebullies in the school who tried to make their lives burdensome. How theyfinally defeated these petty tyrants and came out on top is told in thefirst volume of the series, entitled: "Bobby Blake at Rockledge School;or, Winning the Medal of Honor."
The steamer on which Mr. Blake and his wife had sailed was lost at sea,and for a time it was feared that all on board had gone down with her.Bobby was heart-broken; so when news came later that his parents hadbeen rescued his joy can be imagined. The end of the spring term wasnear, and Bobby and Fred accepted the invitation of one of theirschoolmates, Perry (nicknamed "Pee Wee") Wise, to spend part of thesummer vacation on the coast, where Perry's father had a summer home.There they had a splendid time. Their most stirring adventure involvedthe search for a missing boat. This is described in the second volume ofthe series, entitled: "Bobby Blake at Bass Cove; or, The Hunt for theMotor Boat _Gem_."
They would have stayed longer at this delightful place, had it not beenfor a message brought to Bobby by an old sea captain who was a friend ofMr. Blake. He told Bobby that his parents were on their way home butwould stop for a while at Porto Rico, where they wanted Bobby to jointhem. Bobby was wild to see his parents again, and his joy was increasedwhen Mr. Martin said that he would go too and take Fred along. Theyexpected adventure, but got more than they bargained for, and the storyof how they were cast away and finally picked up by the very ship onwhich Bobby's father and mother were sailing is told in the third volumeof the series, entitled: "Bobby Blake on a Cruise; or, The Castaways ofVolcano Island."
Once more at home, the two boys were preparing to go back to Rockledgefor the fall term, when they suddenly came into possession of apocketbook containing a large sum of money. A strange series ofhappenings led them at last to the owner. In the meantime, their schoollife was full of action, culminating in a lively football game whereBobby and Fred helped to defeat Belden School, their chief rival. Howwell they played their part is shown in the fourth volume of the series,entitled: "Bobby Blake and His School Chums; or, The Rivals ofRockledge."
The uncle of "Mouser" Pryde, one of Bobby's particular friends atschool, owned a shooting lodge up in the Big Woods, and he invitedMouser to ask some of his friends up there to spend part of theChristmas holidays. Bobby and Fred were members of the party, and theyhad a glorious time, skating, snowshoeing, fishing through the ice andhunting. In turn, they were themselves hunted by a big bear and had anarrow escape. Incidentally they were fortunate enough to rescue andbring back to his right mind a demented hunter who proved to be PatMoriarty's father. How they did this and won the everlasting gratitudeof the red-headed Irish boy is described in the fifth volume of theseries, entitled: "Bobby Blake at Snowtop Camp; or, Winter Holidays inthe Big Woods."
; Pat and Ap seemed to be trying to outstare each other, and the restwaited in breathless silence during this silent duel of eyes.
But Ap's eyes were the first to fall before the blaze in Pat's.
"I'll get even with that Bobby Blake yet," he mumbled, stooping to pickup his whip.
"Well, the next time don't bring along your whip to help you out,"replied Bobby.
"An' when you feel like lookin' for trouble, I can find it for you,"added Pat. "You'll be rememberin', Ap Plunkit, that I licked you oncewhen you gave a hot penny to a monkey, an' I can do it again."
It was evident that Ap did remember perfectly well the fact which Patreferred to, for he did not seem to want to stay any longer in the Irishlad's vicinity. He picked up his whip, went over to the wagon andclimbed in. Then he took out his spite by giving his nag a vicious slashand drove away. But first he doubled up his fist and shook it at theboys, a gesture which they answered with a derisive shout of laughter.
"I think that Ap Plunkit is just horrid," declared Betty, with a stampof her little foot.
"I don't blame him for feeling a little sore," said Bobby, "especiallybefore he knew I didn't do it on purpose. But I guess he has a grudgeagainst me anyway."
"He was just looking for an excuse to make trouble," put in Fred, "andit was just like him to bring his whip along. He never has played fairyet."
"He's got a yaller streak in him, I'm thinkin'," chuckled Pat, a broadsmile covering his jolly face. "I just couldn't help buttin' in when Iseen him a swingin' of that whip."
"You always stand up for your friends, don't you, Pat?" said Mouseradmiringly.
"Sure thing," grinned Pat. "Especially when they're the best friends afeller ever had. I'll never forget what Bobby and Fred have done for mean' my folks."
"Oh, that was nothing," put in Bobby hastily.
"Nothin'!" exclaimed Pat. "It was just everything, an' there isn't a daygoes by in our house but what we're talkin' about it."
"How did you happen to be Johnny-on-the-spot this morning?" asked Bobby,anxious to change the conversation.
"I just was doin' an errand at the grocery store when I heard some onesay that you boys were goin' off to school this mornin'," answered Pat,"an' I dropped everything an' came down here on a dead run to saygood-bye and wish you slathers of luck. I guess me mother will be afterwonderin' what's keepin' me, an' she a waitin' fur the butter an'sugar," he added, with a grin, "but she won't care when I tell her whatthe reason was."
"I wish you were going along with us, Pat," said Bobby, who wasgenuinely fond of the good-hearted Irish boy.
"Yes," drawled Pee Wee. "We've got a couple of fellows up at Rockledgethat I'd like to see you handle just as you faced down Ap this morning."
"If there's any kind of a shindig, I'd sure like to be in the thick ofit," laughed Pat. "But I'll trust you boys not to let them fellers doany crowin' over you."
"Right you are," put in Mouser. "There aren't any of 'em that can makeBobby and Fred lie down when they get their dander up."
"Oh, dear," sighed Betty, as the toot of the train's whistle was heardup the track. "Here it comes. I just hate to have to say good-bye to youboys."
"Never mind, Betty," cried Bobby cheerily. "It won't be so very long andyou'll hear from us every once in a while. And maybe we'll be able tocome home for a few days at Easter."
There was a scurrying about as the boys got their hand-baggage togetherand brushed the snow from their clothes. The train had now come insight, and a minute later with a great rattle and clamor and hissing ofsteam it drew up to the platform.
"All aboard!" shouted Mouser, and the four boys scrambled up the steps,Pee Wee as usual bringing up the rear.
They rushed up the aisle and were lucky enough to find two vacant seatsnext to each other. They turned over the back of one of them, so thattwo of them could sit facing the others, and tucked away theirbelongings in the racks and under the seats. Then they threw up thewindows so as to have a last word with those they were leaving behind.
The girls had their handkerchiefs out ready to wave a good-bye, andBetty was applying hers furtively to one of her eyes.
"I hope your nose isn't hurting you, Fred," she questioned, the mischiefglinting out in spite of the tears.
"Not a bit of it," answered Fred hastily, as though the subject was notto his liking.
"And you're sure you don't need the ten cents?"
"Need nothing," declared Fred, with the magnificent gesture of one towhom money was a trifle. "I've got plenty with me."
Betty drew back a little, and Scat and Pat came along and grasped thefour hands that were thrust out to meet theirs.
"Good luck, fellows," said Scat. "I hope you'll get on the baseball ninethis spring and lay it all over the teams you play against."
"We're going to do our best," Bobby replied.
"Good-bye, boys!" called out Pat. "I sure am sorry to have you goin'. Itwon't seem like the same old place when you ain't here no more."
"Good-bye, Pat!" the four shouted in chorus.
"If you have any mix-up with Ap while we're gone, be sure to let usknow," laughed Bobby.
"There won't be any mix-up," put in Fred. "Not if Ap sees Pat first,there won't."
"Ap will crawfish all right," confirmed Mouser.
"He's a wonder at backing out," added Pee Wee.
The bell of the engine began to clang and the train started slowly outof the station. The little party left behind ran alongside until theyreached the end of the platform, shouting and waving.
The travelers, with their heads far out of the windows, waved and calledin return until they were out of sight and hearing.
"Betty's a bully girl, isn't she, Fred?" remarked Bobby, as they settledback in their seats. "You're a lucky fellow. I wish I had a sister likeher."
"Ye-e-s," assented Fred, rather hesitatingly. "Betty's a brick. Thatis," he added hastily, "as far as any girl can be. But don't be wishingtoo hard for sisters, Bobby," he went on darkly. "Girls aren't allthey're cracked up to be."
"Especially when they know how to throw," put in Bobby, with a roguishglint in his eyes.
Fred pretended to think this remark unworthy of an answer, but he rubbedhis nose reflectively.