"He threw the rock," snarled Clipperton, hate throbbing in his voice. "I didn't see the rock in his hand. When it hit me his hand was in the air. Did any of the rest of you see him?" "We all saw him make that pass at you!" averred Ratty Spangler. "Didn't we, fellers?" "We did!" all the rest answered as one. The breath came sharp through Clipperton's lips. "He'll pay for it," he hissed. "You watch my smoke and see." "That's the talk!" encouraged Perry craftily. "That tenderfoot ought to be kicked out of the school--he ain't fit for decent fellows to associate with. If that old one-legged freak hadn't pulled a gun on us, Clip, we'd have settled with King for what he did to you right there. How are you going to get even with him?" "I know how," growled Clipperton. "I'll meet him again. I'll meet him as many times as I have to until I do him up." "You're too headstrong, Clip," returned Perry, "if you don't mind my saying so. That's no way to make a saw-off with Matt King. Be sly. Go after him in a way he don't expect. That's your cue if you want to get _him_--just take it from me." Clipperton turned a half-distrustful look on Perry. "I'm no coward," he muttered. "Man to man. That's the way to settle everything." "Sure, when you're dealing with a fellow of the right sort. But what's Matt King? Why, Clip, he was afraid of you from the start, and that's the reason he tried to get in his work at long range with the stone." "D'you think that?" demanded Clipperton huskily. "No think about it; it's a lead-pipe cinch. When you balance accounts with a fellow like that go after him in his own way." "What would you do?" "You're a crack shot, Clip," observed Perry. "I know that because I saw you making bull's-eyes in the shooting-gallery the other day." Clipperton looked startled. "What's my shooting got to do with it?" "Well," went on Perry, "have you got a gun, or can you get one?" Tubbits and Ratty Spangler grew morbidly apprehensive. "Looky here, Dace," demurred Tubbits, "don't let Clip go and do anything rash." "Don't be a fool," snapped Perry. "I reckon I've got some sense left. Old Peg-leg drew a cannon on us, but I'm too well up in law to advise Clip to pull a gun on anybody--even Matt King." His voice grew friendly and confidential as he went on talking with Clipperton. "Can you get a pistol and stuff it in your pocket when you come to the try-out this afternoon, Clip?" "Yes," was the reply. "What do you want me to do with it?" Perry turned to the boys behind. "Jog along, you fellows," said he; "Clip and I have got business to talk over. And mind," he added, as Tubbits, Spangler and the rest moved off ahead, "keep mum about what you've already heard." "Mum it is," said the cross-country squad obediently, and drew away from the plotters.