Emil , however , could not submit to be beaten by a fellow younger than himself , for Emil was past fourteen and a plucky fellow , so he challenged Dan to a fight . Dan accepted at once , and the others looked on with intense interest . What little bird carried the news to head-quarters no one ever knew , but , in the very hottest of the fray , 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 ca n't 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 I 'll knock him down again , '' shouted Dan , sparring away in spite of the grip on his collar . `` Come on , come on , I ai n't thrashed yet ! '' cried Emil , who had been down five times , but did not know when he was beaten . `` They are playing be gladdy what-you-call - 'em s , like the Romans , Uncle Fritz , '' called out Demi , whose eyes were bigger than ever with the excitement of this new pastime . `` They were a fine set of brutes ; but we have learned something since then , I hope , and I can not have you make my barn a Colosseum . Who proposed this ? '' asked Mr. Bhaer . `` Dan , '' answered several voices . `` Do n't you know that it is forbidden ? '' `` Yes , '' growled Dan , sullenly . `` Then why break the rule ? '' `` They 'll all be molly-coddles , if they do n't know how to fight . '' `` Have you found Emil a molly-coddle ? He does n't look much like one , '' and Mr. Bhaer brought the two face to face .
XXXXX had a black eye , and his jacket was torn to rags , but Emil 's 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 .
Bhaer Dan Demi Emil Fritz brutes bulldogs molly-coddle molly-coddles what-you-call