214 FARMING IT 



and had rushed to the fence with the intention 

 of vaulting it, disarming the old man, and walk- 

 ing him Spanish back to the barn for a little 

 heart-to-heart talk, when a surprising thing hap- 

 pened. 



Dick, instead of running, as I supposed he 

 would, for the spectacle of a man of sixty, 

 armed with a bull-whip and bearing down on 

 one with curses is rather formidable to a boy, 

 stood quietly, awaiting his approach, with his left 

 hand in his pocket, but with the right hanging 

 at his side clinching the baseball. I was near 

 enough to see a look in his face and a glitter in 

 his eye that I knew meant fight. 



Old Pettigrew, seeing that Dick did not re- 

 treat, slowed down to a walk, and then stopped. 



"Git offer my Ian', ye whelp of Satan, or I'll 

 cut ye tew ribbons!" said the old man, with a 

 fearful curse. 



"I 'm going to get off your land, Mr. Petti- 

 grew," said Dick; "but if you raise that whip 

 again I'll smash in your old ribs with this base- 

 ball and whale you so your old hide won't hold 

 water ; now get out of my way !" And he stepped 

 directly toward the old man, who was between 

 him and the fence. 



" Don't ye peg that ball at me or I '11 have ye 

 arrested," said the old man, backing precipitately 

 as the young chap approached. 



