It pleased Dan to have the three favorites like him , and he exerted himself to be agreeable , which was the secret of his success . The Bhaers were surprised , but hoped the lads would have a good influence over Dan , and waited with some anxiety , trusting that no harm would come of it . Dan felt they did not quite trust him , and never showed them his best side , but took a wilful pleasure in trying their patience and thwarting their hopes as far as he dared . Mr. Bhaer did not approve of fighting , and did not think it a proof of either manliness or courage for two lads to pommel one another for the amusement of the rest . All sorts of hardy games and exercises were encouraged , and the boys were expected to take hard knocks and tumbles without whining ; but black eyes and bloody noses given for the fun of it were forbidden as a foolish and a brutal play . Dan laughed at this rule , and told such exciting tales of his own valor , and the many frays that he had been in , that some of the lads were fired with a desire to have a regular good `` mill . '' `` Do n't tell , and I 'll show you how , '' said Dan ; and , getting half a dozen of the lads together behind the barn , he gave them a lesson in boxing , which quite satisfied the ardor of most of them . 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 .
`` XXXXX , '' answered several voices .
Bhaer Bhaers Dan Demi Emil Fritz brutes bulldogs frays head-quarters