The boys shouted "coward" and "baby" after him as he sneaked off, but Jack went back to comfort Columbus and to get control of his temper. For it is not wise, as Jack soon reflected, even in a good cause to lose your self-control. "It was good of you to interfere," said Susan, when she had come in and learned all about it. "I should have been a brute if I hadn't," said Jack, pleased none the less with her praise. "But it doesn't take any courage to back Riley out of a school-house. One could get more fight out of a yearling calf. I suppose I've got to take a beating from Pewee, though." "Go and see him about it, before Riley talks to him," suggested Susan. And Jack saw the prudence of this course. As he left the school-house at a rapid pace, Ben Berry told Riley, who was skulking behind a fence, that Jack was afraid of Pewee. "Pewee," said Jack, when he met him starting to school, after having done his "chores," including the milking of his cow,--"Pewee, I want to say something to you." Jack's tone and manner flattered Pewee. One thing that keeps a rowdy a rowdy is the thought that better people despise him. Pewee felt in his heart that Jack had a contempt for him, and this it was that made him hate Jack in turn. But now that the latter sought him in a friendly way, he felt himself lifted up into a dignity hitherto unknown to him. "What is it?" "You are a kind of king among the boys," said Jack. Pewee grew an inch taller. "They are all afraid of you. Now, why don't you make us fellows behave? You ought to protect the little boys from fellows that impose on them. Then you'd be a king worth the having. All the boys and girls would like you." "I s'pose may be that's so," said the king. "There's poor little Columbus Risdale----" "I don't like him," said Pewee. "You mean you don't like Susan. She _is_ a little sharp with her tongue. But you wouldn't fight with a baby--it isn't like you." "No, sir-ee," said Pewee. "You'd rather take a big boy than a little one. Now, you ought to make Riley let Lummy alone." "I'll do that," said Pewee. "Riley's about a million times bigger than Lum." "I went to the school-house this morning," continued Jack, "and I found Riley choking and beating him. And I thought I'd just speak to you, and see if you can't make him stop it." "I'll do that," said Pewee, walking along with great dignity. When Ben Berry and Riley saw Pewee coming in company with Jack, they were amazed and hung their heads, afraid to say anything even to each other. Jack and Pewee walked straight up to the fence-corner in which they stood. "I thought I'd see what King Pewee would say about your fighting with babies, Riley," said Jack. "I want you fellows to understand," said Pewee, "that I'm not going to have that little Lum Risdale hurt. If you want to fight, why don't you fight somebody your own size? I don't fight babies myself," and here Pewee drew his head up, "and I don't stand by any boy that does."