[Frank Among The Rancheros by Harry Castlemon]@TWC D-Link bookFrank Among The Rancheros CHAPTER XVI 10/15
Do you know him? Did you ever meet him while you were hunting lions and tigers in Europe ?" Frank and his cousin laughed loudly, which so enraged Arthur that he caught up a stick, that happened to be lying near him, and struck Johnny a severe blow with it. "O, you coward!" shouted Archie, struggling frantically to free his arms.
"What do you mean by hitting a man when he is down, and can't move hand or foot ?" The traitor turned fiercely upon Archie, and was about to use the stick upon him, when the gruff voice of the sentinel arrested his hand.
The Ranchero pointed toward the fire, and Arthur, understanding the motion, threw down the stick, and walked away, shaking his head, and muttering to himself. "He had better keep close to his friends to-morrow," said Johnny, his face all wrinkled up with pain. The other boys thought so too.
Each one of them had rather that Arthur had struck him instead of Johnny; for the latter, although high-spirited, and inclined to be belligerent under provocation, was a good-natured, accommodating fellow, who gained hosts of friends wherever he went, and who never hesitated to make any sacrifice for the benefit of others.
Frank had never before witnessed such an exhibition of cowardly vindictiveness, and he was almost sorry that he had protected Arthur. The traitor, well satisfied with what he had done, and only regretting that he had been interrupted before his revenge was complete, spread his blanket beside the chief; and, after that, nothing happened for a long time to disturb the silence of the camp.
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