As the scholars filed out, there was a colloquy between Jacob Dennison and his younger brother Dave.

Dave had the brains of the family, and he was whispering to Jake.

Keith moved his chair and seated himself near the door.

There was a brief muttered conversation among the Dennisons, and then Jake Dennison rose, put on his hat slowly, and, addressing the other boys, announced that he didn't know what they were going to do, but he was "a-gwine home and git ready to go and see the dance up at Gates's." He swaggered toward the door, the others following in his wake.
Keith rose from his seat.
"Go back to your places." He spoke so quietly that his voice could scarcely be heard.
"Go nowhere! You go to h----l!" sneered the big leader, contemptuously.
"'Tain't no use for you to try to stop me--I kin git away with two like you." Perhaps, he could have done so, but Keith was too quick for him.

He seized the split-bottomed chair from which he had risen, and whirling it high above his head, brought it crashing down on his assailant, laying him flat on the floor.