"Then, take that, you spalpeen!" said Mike, suddenly pulling
Paul's hat over his eyes.
At the same time Jim, to whom he had tipped a wink, snatched the
basket, which Paul held loosely in his hand, and disappeared
round the corner.
The attack was so sudden and unexpected that Paul was at first
bewildered. But he quickly recovered his presence of mind, and
saw into the trick. He raised his hat, and darted in pursuit of
Mike, not knowing in what direction his basket had gone.
"That's a mean trick!" he exclaimed, indignantly. "Give me back
my basket, you thief!"
"I ain't got no basket," said Mike, facing round.
"Then you know where it is."
"I don't know nothin' of your basket."
"You pulled my hat over my eyes on purpose to steal my basket."
"No, I didn't. You insulted me, that's why I did it."
"Tell me where my basket is, or I'll lick you," said Paul,
incensed.
"I ain't nothin' to do with your basket."
"Take that, then, for pulling my hat over my eyes," and Paul,
suiting the action to the word, dealt Mike a staggering blow in
the face.
"I'll murder you!" shouted Mike, furiously, dashing at Paul with
a blow which might have leveled him, if he had not fended it off.
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