The big fellow dodged the onset of his enemy; the next moment he had
his left arm squeezed around the other’s neck, so that the head of the
latter was caught as in a noose; he had him, as they say, “in chancery.”
With his right hand he gripped the right fist of his opponent, who was
trying to pummel him with it on the back, and when he had regularly
trapped him and brought him completely under his power he dragged him
again and again round and about the lamp-post.
“Clumsy lad,” muttered the old colonel, continuing his monologue,
“always to let himself get caught in that way.” He was plainly
disappointed in the little chubby boy, and could not endure the long,
lanky one.
“They fight that way every day,” he explained, noticing the waiter, to
whom he seemed willing to account for his interest in the matter.
Then he turned his face again toward the window. “Wonder if the little
one will turn up.”
Scarcely had he mumbled this to the end when there came rushing from the
city park that adjoined the square a slender little slip of a lad.
“There he is,” said the old colonel. He swallowed a mouthful of red wine
and stroked his beard.
The little fellow, who one felt sure by the resemblance must be a
brother of little Chubby Cheeks, but a finer and improved edition, ran
up, lifted high his portfolio with both hands and gave Long-Shanks a
blow on the back that resounded away over to where we sat.
“Bravo!” said the old colonel.
Long-Shanks kicked like a horse at this new assailant. Little-Boy
dodged, and the same instant Long-Shanks got a second blow, this time on
the head, that sent his cap flying.
Nevertheless, he still kept his prisoner held in the trap and fast by
the right hand.
Then Little-Boy tore open his portfolio with frantic haste; from the
portfolio he drew out a pen-case, from the pen-case a pen-holder, which
all at once he began jabbing into the hand of Long-Shanks that held his
brother prisoner.
“Clever lad!” said the colonel to himself. “Fine lad!” His red eyes
fairly gleamed with delight.
The affair was now becoming too hot for Long-Shanks. Stung with pain,
he released his first opponent to throw himself with furious blows on
Little-Boy.
But the latter was now transformed into a veritable little wild-cat.
His hat had flown from his head, his curly hair clung round his fine,
deathly pale face, out of which his eyes fairly burned; the portfolio
with all its contents was lying on the ground--over cap, portfolio and
all he went for the anatomy of Long-Shanks.
He threw himself on the enemy, and with little, clenched, convulsive
fists belabored him so on stomach and body that Long-Shanks began to
retreat step by step.
In the mean while Chubby-Cheeks had recovered himself, snatched up
his portfolio, and with blow after blow on the sides and back of his
oppressor, pushed into the fight again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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