MINERVA

just as men’s misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practise it undisturbed. It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short intervals in the midst of the music—the reader probably remembers how to do it, if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet—no doubt, as far as strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with the boy, not the astronomer. The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom checked his whistle. A stranger was before him—a boy a shade larger than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy was well dressed, too—well dressed on a week-day. This was simply astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes on—and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom’s vitals. The more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved—but only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all the time. Finally Tom said: “I can lick you!” “I’d like to see you try it.” “Well, I can do it.” “No you can’t, either.” “Yes I can.” “No you can’t.” “I can.” “You can’t.” “Can!” “Can’t!” An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said: “What’s your name?” “’Tisn’t any of your business, maybe.” “Well I ’low I’ll _make_ it my business.” “Well why don’t you?” “If you say much, I will.” “Much—much—_much_. There now.” “Oh, you think you’re mighty smart, _don’t_ you? I could lick you with one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to.” “Well why don’t you _do_ it? You _say_ you can do it.” “Well I _will_, if you fool with me.” “Oh yes—I’ve seen whole families in the same fix.” “Smarty! You think you’re _some_, now, _don’t_ you? Oh, what a hat!” “You can lump that hat if you don’t like it. I dare you to knock it off—and anybody that’ll take a dare will suck eggs.” “You’re a liar!” “You’re another.” “You’re a fighting liar and dasn’t take it up.” “Aw—take a walk!” “Say—if you give me much more of your sass I’ll take and bounce a rock off’n your head.” “Oh, of _course_ you will.” “Well I _will_.” “Well why don’t you _do_ it then? What do you keep _saying_ you will for? Why don’t you _do_ it? It’s because you’re afraid.” “I _ain’t_ afraid.” “You are.” “I ain’t.” “You are.” Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other. Presently they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said: “Get away from here!” “Go away yourself!” “I won’t.” “I won’t either.” So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling