When Dan and Emil were fighting like a pair of young bulldogs, and the others with fierce, excited faces were cheering them on, Mr. Bhaer walked into the ring, plucked the combatants apart with a strong hand, and said, in the voice they seldom heard,
I cant allow this, boys! Stop it at once; and never let me see it again. I keep a school for boys, not for wild beasts. Look at each other and be ashamed of yourselves.
You let me go, and Ill knock him down again, shouted Dan.
Come on, come on! cried Emil.
Who proposed this? asked Mr. Bhaer.
Dan, answered several voices.
Dont you know that it is forbidden?
Yes, growled Dan, sullenly.
Then why break the rule?
Theyll all be molly-coddles[15], if they dont know how to fight.
Have you found Emil a molly-coddle?
Dan had a black eye, and his jacket was torn to rags. Emils face was covered with blood from a cut lip and a bruised nose, while a bump on his forehead was already as purple as a plum.
Dan, if you break the rules again, you will be sent away. That was the bargain.
The lads went off, and after a few more words to the spectators, Mr. Bhaer followed to bind up the wounds of the young gladiators. Emil went to bed sick, and Dan was an unpleasant spectacle for a week. But the lawless lad soon transgressed again.
One Saturday afternoon as a party of the boys went out to play, Tommy said,
Lets go down to the river, and cut new fish-poles[16].
Take Toby to drag them back, and one of us can ride him down, proposed Stuffy, who hated to walk.
That means you, I suppose; well, hurry up, lazy-bones, said Dan.
Away they went, and having got the poles were about to go home, when Demi unluckily said to Tommy, who was on Toby with a long rod in his hand,
You look like the picture of the man in the bull-fight, only you havent got a red cloth, or pretty clothes on.
Id like to see one. Theres old Buttercup in the big meadow, ride at her, Tom, and see her run, proposed Dan.
No, you mustnt, began Demi.
Why not, little coward? demanded Dan.
I dont think Uncle Fritz will like it.
Did he ever say we must not have a bull-fight?
No, I dont think he ever did, admitted Demi.
Then hold your tongue. Drive on, Tom, and heres a red rag to flap at the old cow. Ill help you, and over the wall went Dan, and the rest followed like a flock of sheep; even Demi who watched the fun with interest.
Poor Buttercup was not in a very good mood. Just now she regarded all mankind as her enemies, so when the matadore came towards her with the red handkerchief flying at the end of his long lance, she threw up her head, and gave a most appropriate Moo! Tommy rode gallantly at her, and Toby recognizing an old friend, was quite willing to approach. But when the lance came down on her back with a loud whack, both cow and donkey were surprised and disgusted. Toby back with a bray of remonstrance, and Buttercup lowered her horns angrily.
At her again, Tom; shes angry, she will fight capitally! called Dan, coming up behind with another rod, while Jack and Ned followed his example.
Buttercup trotted round the field, getting more and more bewildered and excited every moment, for whichever way she turned, there was a dreadful boy, yelling and brandishing a new and very disagreeable sort of whip. It was great fun for them, but real misery for her, till she lost patience. All at once she turned round, and rushed at Toby. Poor Toby tripped over a stone, and down went horse, matadore, and all, in one ignominious heap, while distracted Buttercup jumped over the wall, and galloped wildly out of sight down the road.
Catch her, stop her! Run, boys, run! shouted Dan.
Finally she was caught. The fish-poles were left behind; and every boy was red, breathless, and scared. They found poor Buttercup at last in a flower garden, worn out with the long run. Dan led her home, followed by a party of young gentlemen, for the cow was in a sad state. She had strained her shoulder, so that she limped, her eyes looked wild, and she was wet and muddy.
Old Bhaer will send me off, I guess. Dont care if he does, muttered Dan.
Well ask him not to, all of us, said Demi, and the others assented.
Dan only said, Dont bother about me.
When Mr. Bhaer saw the animal, and heard the story, he said very little. Buttercup was made comfortable in her stall, and the boys sent to their rooms till supper-time. Dan whistled briskly in his room. He knew they tried to help him, and at the bottom of his heart he was grateful, but his rough life had made him hard and careless, suspicious and wilful. He hated restraint of any sort, and fought against it like an untamed creature.
Mr. Bhaer came in, and said,
I have heard all about it, Dan, and though you have broken the rules again, I am going to give you one more trial, to please Mother Bhaer.
I didnt know there was any rule about bull-fighting.
As I never expected to have any at Plumfield, I never did make such a rule, answered Mr. Bhaer. Then he added gravely, But one of the first and most important of our few laws is the law of kindness to every dumb creature on the place. I want everybody and everything to be happy here, to love and trust, and serve us, as we try to love and trust and serve them faithfully and willingly. I have often said that you were kinder to the animals than any of the other boys, and Mrs. Bhaer liked that trait in you very much. She thought it showed a good heart. But you have disappointed us in that, and we are sorry, for we hoped to make you quite one of us. Shall we try again?
Dans eyes had been on the floor, but when he heard the kind voice ask that question, he looked up quickly,
Yes, please.
Very well, then, we will say no more, only you will stay at home from the walk tomorrow.
I will.
Now, go down to supper, and do your best, my boy.
Dan tried for a day or two, but soon relapsed into his old wilful ways. Mr. Bhaer was called from home on business one day, and the boys had no lessons. They liked this, and played till bedtime. Dan, however, had a plan in his head, and when he and Nat were alone, he unfolded it.
Look here! he said, taking from under his bed a bottle, a cigar, and a pack of cards, Im going to have some fun. Heres some beer, I got if of the old man at the station, and this cigar. You can pay for them or Tommy will, hes got heaps of money and I havent a cent.
The folks wont like it, began Nat.
They wont know. Daddy Bhaer is away, and Mrs. Bhaers busy with Ted; she cant leave him. We shant sit up late or make any noise, so wheres the harm?
Asia will know if we burn the lamp long, she always does.
No, she wont, Ive got a dark lantern[17]; it dont give much light. We can shut it quick if we hear anyone coming, said Dan.
Nat obeyed, and returned in a minute with Tommy half dressed, but quite ready for fun as usual.
Now, keep quiet, and Ill show you how to play a wonderful game called Poker, said Dan, as the three revellers gathered round the table, on which were set forth the bottle, the cigar, and the cards. First well all have a drink, then well smoke, and then well play. Men do like this, and its jolly fun.
All three drank beer, though Nat and Tommy did not like it. The cigar was worse still, but they dared not say so, and each smoked till he was dizzy or choked. Dan liked it very much. He drank, and smoked, and swaggered, and he soon began to swear.
You mustnt; its wicked to say Damn! cried Tommy.
Oh! Dont you preach, but play. Its part of the fun to swear.
Id rather say thunder turtles, said Tommy, who had composed this interesting exclamation and was very proud of it.
And Ill say The Devil; that sounds well, added Nat.
Dan scoffed at their nonsense, and swore stoutly as he tried to teach them the new game. But Tommy was very sleepy, and Nats head began to ache with the beer and the smoke. The room was nearly dark, for the lantern burned badly. They could not laugh loud, for Silas slept next door in the shed-chamber, and altogether the party was dull. In the middle of the game Dan stopped suddenly, and called out, Whos that?, and at the same moment drew the slide over the light. A voice in the darkness said tremulously, I cant find Tommy.