“Because you will never want to thrash him afterwards,” answered James, in the most thundering voice he could roll out. The bully turned upon his heels, jumped into his carriage, and drove on.

James and Edwin were soon on their way home, their conversation being upon the unusual experience of the last hour.

“I was glad that you scared him so,” remarked Edwin.

“He was a regular coward.”

“I knew he was a coward when we were talking with him,” James replied. “If I hadn’t, I should have kept still. I don’t like to get into trouble with anybody.”

“I thought you was terribly courageous, for you,” remarked Edwin. “You roared at him like thunder. Your big voice is enough to frighten any coward.”

“I hope that it will never frighten anybody else,” was the only reply that James made.

James was in no sense a bully. Nor was he given to brag. There was no boy in Orange township more gentlemanly and considerate than he; none more averse to pugilistic contests. At the same time he would stand up for his rights and the rights of others. He would defend his companions too, with great courage, if they were in the right. If they were wrong, he would not defend them at all; and he would frankly state his reason. These facts sufficiently explain his encounter with the bully at the hotel.