Guns and Snowshoes; Or, the Winter Outing of the Young Hunters Part 2

"I wonder who did hit him?" mused Snap. "The s...o...b..ll couldn't have come from over here."

"I know who hit him," said a little boy named Benny Grime.

"Who was it, Benny?"

"Ham Spink."

"Ham Spink!" cried Snap and Shep in concert.

"Yes."

"Why, he isn't here," said Whopper.

"He just came up, threw one s...o...b..ll, and ran away. I guess he meant to hit somebody else and the s...o...b..ll hit Mr. Felps instead," went on the small boy. "Don't let him know I told you, or he'll wax me good for it."

"I shan't tell Ham," said Snap. "But this is strange," he continued.

"Thought Ham was too much of a dude to throw s...o...b..a.l.l.s," was Whopper's comment. "Why, he wears a new necktie every day now, and new patent leather shoes, and new gloves, and--"

"Don't pile it on too thick, Whopper," laughed Shep. "But I admit, he is a dude and no mistake."

"And a sneak--to run away as soon as he hit old Felps," finished Giant.

There was no time to say more, for the s...o...b..ll battle was again raging, more furiously than ever. The b.a.l.l.s flew on all sides, and grown folks, coming in that direction, kept out of the way as much as possible.

"Here comes old Mammy Shrader!" cried Snap, presently. "We must be careful not to hit her."

The woman he referred to was old and feeble and very short sighted.

She had a faded shawl over her shoulders and carried a market basket on one arm. She went out nursing among the poor people and was well known throughout the entire neighborhood.

As the old woman came on a s...o...b..ll was thrown at her from the other side of the street.

"Say, don't do that!" called out Snap, angrily. "Leave Mammy Shrader alone!"

He has scarcely uttered the words when another s...o...b..ll was thrown at the aged female. This. .h.i.t her on the cheek and caused her to utter a cry of pain. She tried to save herself from falling, but could not, and went down in a heap.

"For shame!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Shep and ran to help the old woman to arise.

In the meantime Snap, with flas.h.i.+ng eyes, hurried across the street and confronted Carl Dudder. As my old readers know, Carl Dudder was a close crony to Ham Spink and had done his full share in making our young friends uncomfortable during the summer outing.

"Dudder, aren't you ashamed of yourself?" said Snap.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Carl Dudder, although he trembled a little as he spoke.

"You threw those s...o...b..a.l.l.s at Mammy Shrader."

"I didn't."

"You did--I saw you."

"That's correct--I saw him too," put in Giant, who had followed Snap.

In the meantime Whopper had followed Shep, and both were doing what they could for the old woman.

"See here, Snap Dodge, I don't want you to talk to me," bl.u.s.tered Carl Dudder. "I know my own business."

"You ought to be knocked down for throwing at Mammy Shrader."

"You can't knock me down!" growled Carl, doubling up his fists.

"A fight! a fight!" cried several boys, always ready for an affair of that sort.

There was an awkward pause. Snap did not wish to fight, and yet he wanted Dudder to understand that he was not afraid.

"I think I owe you something from last summer," said Dudder, coming closer and sticking his chin in Snap's face. "I haven't forgotten that."

"Yes, but you seem to have forgotten that we about kept you from starving to death," answered Snap calmly.

"And that's no joke," came softly from Giant.

"You keep your oar out, little one," grunted Dudder, turning to glare at Will.

"You and your crowd acted very meanly last summer and you know it, Dudder," said Giant, not in the least abashed. "Your treatment of Mammy Shrader is on a par with your other actions."

"Shut up!" roared the other boy, and made a quick pa.s.s at Giant's head. But the small boy dodged and the fist struck Snap on the shoulder.

The next instant Snap hauled off, struck out, and Carl Dudder measured his length in the snow.

CHAPTER III

THE RESULTS OF s...o...b..LLING

Carl Rudder had not expected this telling blow and he was so dazed it was several seconds before he turned over in the snow and arose to his feet.

"Good for you, Snap!" cried Will. "That's the way to serve him."

"Wha--what do you mean by hitting me like that?" demanded Dudder, glaring at Charley, but still keeping a safe distance.

"What do you mean by hitting me?" demanded Snap.

"I'll punch your head good for you!

"Try it--if you dare," answered Snap, defiantly, and he took an aggressive step forward, at which Dudder retreated.

"I'll fight you another time--when you haven't so many friends around," said Carl Dudder lamely, and then turning on his heel he started away, followed by one of his cronies.