Tommy handed it over. Dan examined it carefully, then putting it into his pocket, walked off,
saying with a wink,
“Just learn, that’s all.”
A howl of wrath from Tommy was followed by a general uproar. Dan, finding himself in a minority, proposed to play stick-knife[14]. Whichever wins will have the treasure. Tommy agreed, and the game was played in a circle of excited faces. Tommy won and secured the knife in the depth of his safest pocket.
“Let’s have a walk, and I’ll show you round,” said Nat, feeling that he must have a little serious conversation with his friend in private.
What passed between them no one knew, but when they appeared again, Dan was more respectful to the boys, though still gruff in his speech, and rough in his manner. The boys had decided that they did not like him, and so they left him to Nat.
Mr. Bhaer, when he heard the story and saw Dan, shook his head, but only said quietly,
“The experiment may cost us something, but we will try it.”
If Dan felt any gratitude for his protection, he did not show it. He was ignorant, but very quick to learn. He had sharp eyes to watch what went on about him; a saucy tongue, rough manners, and a temper that was fierce and sullen. He played with all his might, and played well at almost all the games. He was silent and gruff. Few really liked him, but they admired his courage and strength, for nothing daunted him. He knocked tall Franz with an ease that caused all the others to keep at a respectful distance from his fists. Mr. Bhaer watched him silently, and did his best to tame the
“Wild Boy,” as they called him, but in private the worthy man shook his head, and said soberly,
“I hope the experiment will turn out well, but I am a little afraid it may cost too much.”
Mrs. Bhaer lost her patience with him half a dozen times a day, yet always insisted that there was something good in the lad, after all. He was kinder to animals than to people, he liked to rove about in the woods, and, best of all, little Ted liked him. Ted called him “My Danny”. Teddy was the only creature to whom Dan showed an affection.
But an unexpected and decidedly alarming event upset all their plans, and banished Dan from Plumfield.
Tommy, Nat, and Demi liked the bad boy. Tommy admired his skill and courage; Nat was grateful for past kindness; and Demi regarded him as a sort of animated story book. Dan could tell his adventures in a most interesting way. It pleased Dan to have the three favorites, and he exerted himself to be agreeable, which was the secret of his success. The Bhaers were surprised.
Mr. Bhaer did not approve of fighting, and did not think it a proof of either manliness or courage for two lads to pommel one another for the amusement of the rest. All sorts of hardy games and exercises were encouraged; but black eyes and bloody noses were forbidden as a foolish and a brutal play. Dan laughed at this rule, and some of the lads desired to know more about fights.
“Don’t tell, and I’ll show you how,” said Dan.
Getting half a dozen of the lads together behind the barn, he gave them a lesson in boxing, which quite satisfied the ardor of most of them. Emil, however, could not submit to be beaten by a fellow younger than himself. Emil was past fourteen and he challenged Dan to a fight. Dan accepted at once, and the others looked on with intense interest.
When Dan and Emil were fighting like a pair of young bulldogs, and the others with fierce, excited faces were cheering them on, Mr. Bhaer walked into the ring, plucked the combatants apart with a strong hand, and said, in the voice they seldom heard,
“I can’t allow this, boys! Stop it at once; and never let me see it again. I keep a school for boys, not for wild beasts. Look at each other and be ashamed of yourselves.”
“You let me go, and I’ll knock him down again,” shouted Dan.
“Come on, come on!” cried Emil.
“Who proposed this?” asked Mr. Bhaer.
“Dan,” answered several voices.
“Don’t you know that it is forbidden?”
“Yes,” growled Dan, sullenly.
“Then why break the rule?”
“They’ll all be molly-coddles[15], if they don’t know how to fight.”
“Have you found Emil a molly-coddle?”
Dan had a black eye, and his jacket was torn to rags. Emil’s face was covered with blood from a cut lip and a bruised nose, while a bump on his forehead was already as purple as a plum.
“Dan, if you break the rules again, you will be sent away. That was the bargain.”
The lads went off, and after a few more words to the spectators, Mr. Bhaer followed to bind up the wounds of the young gladiators. Emil went to bed sick, and Dan was an unpleasant spectacle for a week. But the lawless lad soon transgressed again.
One Saturday afternoon as a party of the boys went out to play, Tommy said,
“Let’s go down to the river, and cut new fish-poles[16].”
“Take Toby to drag them back, and one of us can ride him down,” proposed Stuffy, who hated to walk.
“That means you, I suppose; well, hurry up, lazy-bones,” said Dan.
Away they went, and having got the poles were about to go home, when Demi unluckily said to Tommy, who was on Toby with a long rod in his hand,
“You look like the picture of the man in the bull-fight, only you haven’t got a red cloth, or pretty clothes on.”
“I’d like to see one. There’s old Buttercup in the big meadow, ride at her, Tom, and see her run,” proposed Dan.
“No, you mustn’t,” began Demi.
“Why not, little coward?” demanded Dan.
“I don’t think Uncle Fritz will like it.”
“Did he ever say we must not have a bull-fight?”
“No, I don’t think he ever did,” admitted Demi.
“Then hold your tongue. Drive on, Tom, and here’s a red rag to flap at the old cow. I’ll help you,” and over the wall went Dan, and the rest followed like a flock of sheep; even Demi who watched the fun with interest.
Poor Buttercup was not in a very good mood. Just now she regarded all mankind as her enemies, so when the matadore came towards her with the red handkerchief flying at the end of his long lance, she threw up her head, and gave a most appropriate “Moo!” Tommy rode gallantly at her, and Toby recognizing an old friend, was quite willing to approach. But when the lance came down on her back with a loud whack, both cow and donkey were surprised and disgusted. Toby back with a bray of remonstrance, and Buttercup lowered her horns angrily.
“At her again, Tom; she’s angry, she will fight capitally!” called Dan, coming up behind with another rod, while Jack and Ned followed his example.
Buttercup trotted round the field, getting more and more bewildered and excited every moment, for whichever way she turned, there was a dreadful boy, yelling and brandishing a new and very disagreeable sort of whip. It was great fun for them, but real misery for her, till she lost patience. All at once she turned round, and rushed at Toby. Poor Toby tripped over a stone, and down went horse, matadore, and all, in one ignominious heap, while distracted Buttercup jumped over the wall, and galloped wildly out of sight down the road.
“Catch her, stop her! Run, boys, run!” shouted Dan.
Finally she was caught. The fish-poles were left behind; and every boy was red, breathless, and scared. They found poor Buttercup at last in a flower garden, worn out with the long run. Dan led her home, followed by a party of young gentlemen, for the