“Because I felt like doing so.” 
“Do you mean to tell me that you struck that child to 
satisfy such a foolish desire?” 
“Yes; what of it?” 
“You are a coward!” 
“What! To prove that I am no coward, I will hit you!” 
“But do not hit me with your bullets. If you are a real 
man, sir, you will fight me with your fists.” 
“Well, then, to show you that I am a real man, come on!” 
“So be it!” 
Both of them sprang into the middle of the street; the 
crowd gathered closer; the fight began. Both punched, 
struggled, fought in a mania of human conflict, whereupon 
Attucks sent an uppercut under his enemy’s chin, causing him 
to scuffle about the street in order to keep himself on his feet. 
Here he ran into Attucks like a storm, a bombardment raining 
grape shot upon a city. But Attucks was the champion, for 
he defended the powerful human invasion with his strong fists, 
knocking him down, then stood over him like a knight of old, 
while his crowd, and even some of the soldiers, that it was 
a man to man and fair fight, howled to the top of their voices, 
giving praise to the victor, Crispus Attucks. 
The beaten enemy arose, his eyes black, his mouth full of 
blood, his clothes torn, and his hair deranged. He staggered 
to Attucks, extended his hand, then said: 
“Give me your hand; I acknowledge that you are the best 
an. 
“IT do not shake the hand of an enemy.” 
“But I am not your enemy.” 
“Who is, then?” 
“The king of England, by whom I have been sent to Bos- 
ton.” . 
“Have you not been sent here to execute his orders?” 
“T have.” 
“Are you performing your duty?” 
“To be a certainty.” 
“This duty being the king’s duty?” 
“Exactly.” 
“Well, then, that the king is my enemy, and that you and 
your kind are carrying out the orders of the king, you are my 
enemy.” ; 
“This being the case, that you will not let me be your friend, 
I will be your enemy!” F 
Another fight immediately ensued between them, which was 
stopped at once. ee 
The revolutionists had now become vexed, angry, being in 
a state to massacre, burn, kill; and, that they had seen Attucks 
fight so bravely, they, themselves, had become desirous of 
35 
