"I came up just in time," explained the Virginian, still somewhat out of breath. "They were teasing him, and then one of the brutes struck him. I like fair play. I couldn't help taking a hand. They might have hurt him severely." "He's my brother," said the other, putting his hand on Ernie's misshapen shoulder. "No, I won't forget this," he went on. "You didn't have to interfere, but you did. Plucky thing to do. They say you come from Virginia. Well, you've proved it. Thank you for doing this. My name's Dick Cronk. I'm from New York. Ernest, I haven't heard you say anything that sounds like 'much obliged.' Speak up!" The hunchback looked sullenly at the ground, his black eyebrows almost meeting in a straight line above his nose. "He couldn't have licked 'em if you hadn't come, Dick," he protested. "See here, Ernie," said Dick, "that's no way to act. Mr.--er--this young gentleman defended you until I--" "I saw him looking at my--my hump yesterday. He laughed at me," cried the boy fiercely. David's hand fell from his bloody cheek. "Laughed at you?" he cried. "I _never_ did such a thing. You are mistaken." "What were you laughing at, then?" demanded the unfortunate boy, made over-sensitive by his dread of ridicule. "I don't remember that I laughed," said David, perplexed and distressed. "Well, you did," defiantly. David caught the look of profound embarrassment in Dick Cronk's face. He felt a sharp pity for him, though he could not have explained why. "I'm sorry you think that of me," he said. "And I am happy to have come to your assistance just now. Let's be friends." Dick pushed Ernie forward, gently but firmly. The hunchback extended his hand grudgingly. "All right," he said sulkily. "Come on!" said Dick, suddenly alert. "The cops will be along here directly. Let's get back to the lot. I'm not particularly anxious to get pinched just now." He winked at David in a most mysterious way, and then grinned broadly. David looked puzzled. Then a deep flush spread over his unstained cheek. "You mean because you are with me?" he demanded. Dick Cronk stared. "What's that got to do with me? Oh!" He appeared to recall something to mind. "I didn't mean anything like that," he hastened to explain. "As far as that goes, I guess you're in worse company than I am at the present moment." With this enigmatic rejoinder he proceeded to collect three trophies of the battle and toss them over the high board fence. Three of their late enemies had neglected to pick up their hats as they scuttled off the field of carnage. "None of them worth keeping," was his contemptuous remark as he started off briskly in the direction of the circus lot. For the first time in many days the sun was shining. David announced that he would proceed on his walk toward the distant hills.