The Grammar School Boys Snowbound | Page 3

voice as
he moved over between Hen and Alvord.
"Get out of the way," growled Ben. "This ivory-top has got to have his
face washed in the snow."
"And I say you're not going to do it," warned Dick.

"He's too fresh, Hen is."
"No committee of citizens has asked you to reform any one, Ben," Dick
went on good-humoredly. "You've got a few faults of your own that
you might remedy, and I guess we all have."
"Come on, fellows, and rush Dutcher," called Ben Alvord. Ross, Allen
and others moved as though to help, but Dick was flanked by Tom and
Greg. In the distance Dave Darrin could be seen skating back.
"All right, if you fellows insist on it," partly agreed Dick. "But if
trouble starts Hen is going to have some backing on his side, too."
"I guess that's right," nodded Tom Reade.
"Now, who's fresh?" challenged Ben Alvord hotly. "You, Dick
Prescott."
"Well, if I am," sighed Dick, "I'm ready to take my punishment for it.
At all events, I'll look after myself."
"Yah, you will!" growled Ben angrily. "I notice that, just as soon as
anything starts, your gang always jump in on the scene!"
"Dick will fight you, all alone, I know, Ben, if you want him to,"
proposed Dave Darrin, coming slowly into the circle. "But perhaps you
don't want to fight Dick. You tried it once before, and got most
beautifully pounded."
"Yah!" snarled Ben.
"Well, didn't you?" demanded Dave.
"Yah!" sneered Ben. "See here, Darrin, Prescott may be fresh, but he
ain't as bad as you are!"
"So it's I you want to fight with, is it?" laughed Dave. "Come right on
to the shore, then, and don't try any bluffing."

But Ben Alvord didn't care about putting up his guard before either of
these spirited youngsters of the Central Grammar School. After
sputtering a little Ben skated away by himself. Hen got up, after
dabbing his upper lip with his handkerchief and finding that the scratch
amounted to nothing. No further effort was made to molest Hen.
"Now, when you talk, say something pleasant. Don't talk so
disagreeably all the time," advised Prescott in a low tone. "At least, not
unless you're really hunting trouble."
"This is the meanest crowd I ever saw," declared Hen Dutcher stiffly.
"And you started it all, Dave Darrin, by nicknaming me 'Anvil
Chorus!'"
"You're at it again, Hen," sighed Dick. "Why can't you stop saying
disagreeable things?"
Toby Ross, who had skated close enough to hear this last, now skated
away again to join a crowd of boys a little way off. Toby spoke to them
laughingly. Then, over the ice, came a mocking chorus:
"Oh, you Anvil!"
"There, you see," muttered Dutcher angrily, "you've gone and fastened
the nickname on me!"
"Anvil! Anvil!" yelled other tormentors.
"You're all of you about the meanest crowd of fellows I ever saw,"
grunted Hen, as he started slowly to skate away.
"And that's all the thanks you get, Dick, for trying to use him a bit
decently," jeered Greg Holmes.
"Oh, well, I'm sorry for the fellow," muttered Prescott. "Hen is one of
those fellows who are never popular with any crowd and can never
understand why."
Harry Hazelton and Dan Dalzell now skated up from town and joined

their chums. Dick & Co. were at last united.
"Let's try a two-mile swift skate up river, fellows," urged Dick. "Ready?
Go!"
Away went the six, moving along over the ice like young human
whirlwinds. Dick & Co. were known to be the best skaters of all the
Grammar School boys in town.
Dick & Co. will need no introduction to the readers of the first volume
in this series, entitled "THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF
GRIDLEY." Our readers have met all six of the young men, namely,
Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Greg Holmes, Dan Dalzell, Tom Reade
and Harry Hazelton. It would be hard to find six manlier boys of
thirteen--now all of them close to their fourteenth birthdays.
Readers of the previous volume know on what grounds it can be
claimed that these six were real leaders of the little Grammar School
world of Gridley. Dick & Co. were ardent lovers of all forms of
outdoor sports. All were keen for baseball. As runners these six
youngsters were just beginning to develop as a result of self-training.
The September before Dick Prescott had organized, at the Central
Grammar School, a football squad. Things were moving well in this
line until delegations came over from the North and South Grammars,
to see about organizing a Grammar School football league. The
delegates from the two other schools, however, displayed lack of
harmony, and the football idea fell through.
Now, however, winter was on in earnest, and Dick & Co.