Master Philip

The boy caught me by the collar, and I seized him by the arms with a
fierce, vindictive feeling coming over me; but he was very light and
active, and, wresting himself partly free, he gave the cane a swing in
the air, raised it above his head, and struck at me with all his might.

I hardly know how it all occurred in the hurry and excitement, but I
know that I gave myself a wrench round, driving him back as I did so,
and making a grasp at the cane with the full intention of getting it
from him and thrashing him as hard as I could in return for his blow.

He missed his aim: I missed mine. My hand did not go near the cane; the
cane did not come down as he intended upon my back, but with a fierce
swish struck the branch of one of the peaches, breaking it so that it
hung by the bark and a few fibres, while three or four of the ripe fruit
fell with heavy thuds upon the ground.

"There, now you've done it, you young rough!" he cried viciously. "Come
out."

His dark eyes glowed, and he showed his white teeth as he struck at me
again and again; but I avoided the blows as I wrestled with him, and at
last my sturdy strength, helped by the work I had had in Old
Brownsmith's garden, told, and I got hold of the cane, forced open his
hand, and wrested it away.