He hurled himself forward and closed with Dan like a young wildcat . There were no particular rules in the fights of the Glen school boys . It was catch-as-catch can , and get your blows in anyhow . Walter fought with a savage fury and a joy in the struggle against which Dan could not hold his ground . It was all over very speedily . Walter had no clear consciousness of what he was doing until suddenly the red mist cleared from his sight and he found himself kneeling on the body of the prostrate Dan whose nose -- oh , horror ! -- was spouting blood . `` Have you had enough ? '' demanded Walter through his clenched teeth . Dan sulkily admitted that he had . `` My mother does n't write lies ? '' `` No . '' `` Faith Meredith is n't a pig-girl ? '' `` No . '' `` Nor a rooster-girl ? '' `` No . '' `` And I 'm not a coward ? '' `` No . '' Walter had intended to ask , `` And you are a liar ? '' but pity intervened and he did not humiliate Dan further .
Besides , XXXXX blood was so horrible .
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