Page 38 - The Adventures of a Freshman

off one blow, was struck on the chest by the second, dodged the third--and as he ducked, he plunged in and
grappled.

They clinched and began to wrench and twist and scuffle about the ring; the rest of the Sophomores falling
back to keep out of the way whenever the two big fellows came over too near the edge.

Now, Young was no boxer, but he had, like many another country boy, wrestled ever since he first put on
trousers, and he had not forgotten all his tricks. He made a feint as if to try a hip throw, then slipped his arms
down on Ballard, twisted his feet around, threw his chin and his weight forward, and down they both came,
Young on top, while the voices up in University Hall yelled approvingly: "The Freshman is doing him! the
Freshman is doing him!" This made Ballard beside himself with rage.

But Young having proved himself the better man, released Ballard quickly, jumped up, stepped across to Lee,
and in a sober manner was saying, "Now, Lee, I think— " when a staggering blow from Ballard's fist on the
half-turned face nearly upset Young, who was entirely unprepared for this unexpected attack; he might have
fallen but for Lee.

Up to this point Young, though very much in earnest, had been quite cool and deliberate. But now, with the
cowardly blow stinging on his face, he became infuriated. He turned and charged at Ballard like one of the
bulls on his father's farm, with his head down and regardless of consequences. His eyes were wide open and
teeth set. His fury gave him double strength.

Paying no more attention to Ballard's blows than to so many raindrops, he dived down and grasped him
around the middle, lifted him up, got him on the right hip, and whirled him over and down upon the ground
between the sidewalk and the curbstone, a full, clean throw.

The men up in the windows were now really excited, "Good enough, Freshman! good enough! Served him
right! Do it again!"

That was just what Young, with teeth set and nostrils distended, was proceeding to do, though not because
they told him to, for he was now oblivious to everything but showing Ballard that there was a limit to hazing
and to Freshman meekness!

Up went Ballard's legs in the air once more with the enraged Freshman's long, strong arms locked tightly
about him. And again he came down hard upon the ground. And he had barely got to his feet when in rushed
the Freshman again with his head down, and for the third time Ballard was thrown flat and fair. This time it
was in the gutter, and it was lucky for Ballard that it was full of leaves, for Young fell heavily on top of him.

Up to this point Ballard's classmates had been busy keeping out of the way of his whirling heels. Now they
began to realize that they were becoming disgraced; something must be done. Channing was calling,
excitedly, "Get in there, somebody; don't let a Freshman do that, fellows," while he himself kept well out of
the way.

Perhaps they did not admire Ballard for what he had done, but he was their classmate. One of the bigger
fellows dashed in and got Young by the legs and began to pull. Quick as a flash little Lee ran in and
immediately tripped him up. No one had been watching Lee. Another Soph. slipped in and pulled Lee off. A
couple of them held him. Then the others began grabbing Young's arms and legs. He held on like a bull-dog.
One man was sitting on his head. Two were on his body. Ballard was wriggling and swearing. He got one arm
over Young's neck.

"Here, here, give the Freshman a show; give him fair play!" cried some authoritative voices. It was some
Juniors and Seniors hurrying out from University Hall--some half-dressed and some not dressed at all.