“Not me,” replied Penny resolutely.  “Can’t afford to.”

Just then Dreer and his friend came into sight.  Clint watched hopefully.  They were headed straight down the slope and he was just going to lean his head back against the rock again when Beaufort suddenly hunched his shoulders and turned angrily toward Clint and Penny.  “Here!” he shouted.  “What did you do that for?”

“Do what?” asked Clint in genuine surprise as Beaufort and Dreer, the latter a good pace behind, strode toward them through the trees.

“You know what,” replied “Babe” Beaufort with an ugly scowl that increased his resemblance to a ferocious walrus.  “You shied a stone at me!” His eyes, however, fixed themselves on Penny.

“Shied a stone!” exclaimed Clint incredulously.  “Why, we haven’t moved.  Besides, there aren’t any stones around here.  And we couldn’t have thrown one through the trees if we’d tried.”

“You keep out of this,” said Beaufort.  “When I want a lawyer I’ll hire one.  This fellow here threw it and I saw him.”

“Oh, no, you didn’t,” contradicted Clint, “for I was looking and your head was turned away until you jumped.  There wasn’t any stone thrown, and you know it.  You’re just trying to pick a scrap, Beaufort.”

“Call me a liar, do you?  I’ll attend to you when I’m through with this long-haired galoot!” Beaufort contemptuously kicked Penny’s shoe.

“Get up and fight, you!  You can’t shy rocks at me and get away with it!”

Penny had so far said nothing, but, although there was a gravely amused smile on his thin face, his eyes held a dangerous sparkle.

“It can’t be done, Beaufort,” he answered.  “I’m not fighting today.  You come around the day after school closes in the Spring and I’ll talk with you.”

“You’re a coward,” sneered the big youth.  “You’ll either get up and fight or I’ll kick you down the bank!”

Clint was too angry now to remain longer diplomatic.  “You’re a fine one, Dreer,” he declared hotly.  “Why don’t you fight your own battles and not bring a hired bully to do it for you?”

“Hired bully!” exploded Beaufort, who was working himself into a fine imitation of a rage.  “For two cents I’d knock your head off, you fresh kid!”

Harmon Dreer only smirked.  “It’s no business of mine,” he said.  “If you fellows throw stones you’ve got to take the consequences, Thayer.”

“When we do, we will, but you know well enough we didn’t throw a stone, Dreer.  You’re picking on Durkin because Byrd knocked you down the other day.  Why don’t you go after him if you want trouble?”

“You keep out of this,” said Beaufort.  Then, turning to Penny again, “Will you get up and take your licking?” he demanded.

“No, he won’t!” exclaimed Clint, jumping to his feet.  “If you’ve got to fight someone, you fight me, you big overgrown bully!”

“Shut up, Thayer.”  Penny pulled his long length from the ground.  “This is none of your business.”