Meanwhile the boys looked on in decided amazement.  It had been as far as possible from their thoughts that Hector could stand up successfully against the bully even for an instant.  Yet here two attacks had been made, and the champion was decidedly worsted.  They could not believe the testimony of their eyes.

Carried away by the excitement of the moment, Wilkins, who, as we have said, was disposed to espouse the side of Hector, broke into a shout of encouragement.

“Good boy, Roscoe!” he exclaimed.  “You’re doing well!”

Two or three of the other boys, those who were least under the domination of Jim, and were only waiting for an opportunity of breaking away from their allegiance, echoed the words of Wilkins.  If there was anything that could increase the anger and mortification of the tyrant it was these signs of failing allegiance.  What! was he to lose his hold over these boys, and that because he was unable to cope with a boy much smaller and younger than himself?  Perish the thought!  It nerved him to desperation, and he prepared for a still more impetuous assault.

Somewhere in his Greek reader, Hector had met with a saying attributed to Pindar, that “boldness is the beginning of victory.”  He felt that the time had now come for a decisive stroke.  He did not content himself, therefore, with parrying, or simply repelling the blow of his antagonist, but he on his part assumed the offensive.  He dealt his blows with bewildering rapidity, pressed upon Jim, skillfully evading the grasp of his long arms, and in a trice the champion measured his length upon the greensward.

Of course, he did not remain there.  He sprang to his feet, and renewed the attack.  But he had lost his confidence.  He was bewildered, and, to confess the truth, panic-stricken, and the second skirmish was briefer than the first.

When, for the third time, he fell back, with his young opponent standing erect and vigorous, the enthusiasm of the boys overcame the limits of prudence.  There was a shout of approval, and the fallen champion, to add to his discomfiture, was forced to listen to his own hitherto subservient followers shouting, “Hurrah for the new boy!  Hurrah for Hector Roscoe!”

This was too much for Jim.

He rose from the ground sullenly, looked about him with indignation which he could not control, and, shaking his fist, not at one boy in particular, but at the whole company, exclaimed:  “You’ll be sorry for this, you fellows!  You can leave me, and stand by the new boy if you want to, but you’ll be sorry for it.  I’ll thrash you one by one, as I have often done before.”

“Try Roscoe first!” said one boy, jeeringly.

“I’ll try you first!” said Jim; and too angry to postpone his intention, he made a rush for the offender.

The latter, who knew he was no match for the angry bully, turned and fled.  Jim prepared to follow him, when he was brought to by Hector placing himself in his path.