Through Forest and Fire | Page 3

and his wish that
he might soon have a chance to show his playmates how easily he
could vanquish an opponent, much larger than himself, by reason of his
"science."
He was fully four years older than Nick, and much taller--a fact which
Herbert regretted as the Pennsylvania Hollander was too insignificant
for him to pick a quarrel with.
But that was no reason, as he looked at his privileges in this life, why
he should not play the tyrant and bully over the honest little fellow and
he proceeded at once to make life unbearable to Nicholas.
He began the cry of "Dutchy," and, finding that it did not disturb the
serenity of the lad, he resorted to more active measures on the way
home from school.
He began by knocking off his hat, and when Nick looked at him in a
surprised way and asked why he did it, the city youth assumed a
pugilistic attitude and answered, "Greens; what are you going to do
about it, Dutchy?"

"Be careful of him," whispered one of the boys, who felt some
sympathy for Nick in his persecutions; "he's science."
"I don't care vat he ain't," replied Nick, beginning to lose his temper; "if
he don't lets me be, he'll got into trouble."
Just then Nick started to overtake a lad, who tapped him on the back
and invited him to play a game of tag. As he passed close to Herbert,
that boy threw out his foot and Nick went sprawling headlong, his book
and slate flying from under his arm, while his cap shot a dozen-feet in
another direction.
The other boys broke into laughter, while several of the girls cried out
that it was a shame.
Nick picked himself up, and putting on his cap, turned about to ask
Herbert what he meant by such cruelty, when he was confronted by the
bully, who had thrown himself into his fancy pugilistic posture, and
with one eye shut and his tongue thrust out, said:
"What are you going to do about it, Dutchy?"
"I'll show you vot I do!"
CHAPTER II.
SCHOOL DAYS.
Nicholas Ribsam proceeded to show Master Herbert Watrous what he
meant to do about it.
Paying no heed to the formidable attitude of the city youth, Nick rushed
straight upon him, and embracing him about the waist so as to pinion
his arms, he threw him flat upon the ground with great emphasis. Then,
while Herbert lay on his face, vainly struggling to rise, Nick sat down
heavily on his back. Although he could have used his fists with great
effect, Nick declined to do so; but, rising some six or eight inches, he
sat down on him again, and then repeated the performance very fast,

bounding up and down as a man is sometimes seen to do when a horse
is trotting; descending each time on the back of Herbert with such vigor
that the breath was almost forced from his body.
"Let me up!" shouted the victim, in a jerky, spasmodic manner, as the
words were helped out; "that ain't the right way to fight: that isn't fair."
"It suits me better as nefer vas," replied the grinning Nick, banging
himself down on the back of the struggling Herbert, until the latter
began to cry and ask the boys to pull Nick off.
No one interfered, however, and when the conqueror thought he had
flattened out the city youth to that extent that he would never acquire
any plumpness again, he rose from his seat and allowed Herbert to
climb upon his feet.
Never was a boy more completely cowed than was this vaunting youth,
on whom all the others had looked with such admiration and awe. He
meekly picked up his hat, brushed off the dirt, and looking
reproachfully at Nick said:
"Do you know you broke two of my ribs?"
"I dinks I brokes dem _all_: dat's what I meant to do; I will try him
agin."
"No, you won't!" exclaimed Herbert, darting off in a run too rapid for
the short legs of Nick to equal.
Nick Ribsam had conquered a peace, and from that time forth he
suffered no persecution at school. Master Herbert soon after went back
to his city home, wondering how it was that a small, dumpy lad, four
years younger than he, was able to vanquish him so completely when
all the science was on the side of the elder youth.
Young as was Nick Ribsam, there was not a boy in the school who
dared attempt to play the bully over him. The display he had given of
his prowess won the respect of all.

Besides this he proved to be an unusually bright scholar. He dropped
his faulty accent with astonishing rapidity, and gained knowledge with