“He’dmakeafirst-raterifhewastaught，“saidDan，unabletowithholdthepraisefromtheboywhomadeitnecessaryforhimtodohisbest。
“He’llbetaughttofenceandboxbyandby，andtillthenIthinkhewilldoverywellwithoutanylessonsinmauling。Goandwashyourfaces；
andremember，Dan，ifyoubreakanymoreoftherulesagain，youwillbesentaway。Thatwasthebargain；doyourpartandwewilldoours。“
Theladswentoff，andafterafewmorewordstothespectators，Mr。
Bhaerfollowedtobindupthewoundsoftheyounggladiators。Emilwenttobedsick，andDanwasanunpleasantspectacleforaweek。
Butthelawlessladhadnothoughtofobeying，andsoontransgressedagain。
OneSaturdayafternoonasapartyoftheboyswentouttoplay，Tommysaid，­；
“Let’sgodowntotheriver，andcutalotofnewfish-poles。“
“TakeTobytodragthemback，andoneofuscanridehimdown，“proposedStuffy，whohatedtowalk。
“Thatmeansyou，Isuppose；well，hurryup，lazy-bones，“saidDan。
Awaytheywent，andhavinggotthepoleswereabouttogohome，whenDemiunluckilysaidtoTommy，whowasonTobywithalongrodinhishand，­；
“Youlooklikethepictureofthemaninthebull-fight，onlyyouhaven’tgotaredcloth，orprettyclotheson。“
“I’dliketoseeone；there’soldButtercupinthebigmeadow，rideather，Tom，andseeherrun，“proposedDan，bentonmischief。
“No，youmustn’t，“beganDemi，whowaslearningtodistrustDan’spropositions。
“Whynot，littlefuss-button？“demandedDan。
“Idon’tthinkUncleFritzwouldlikeit。“
“Didheeversaywemustnothaveabull-fight？“
“No，Idon’tthinkheeverdid，“admittedDemi。
“Thenholdyourtongue。Driveon，Tom，andhere’saredragtoflapattheoldthing。I’llhelpyoutostirherup，“andoverthewallwentDan，fullofthenewgame，andtherestfollowedlikeaflockofsheep；
evenDemi，whosatuponthebars，andwatchedthefunwithinterest。
PoorButtercupwasnotinaverygoodmood，forshehadbeenlatelybereftofhercalf，andmournedforthelittlethingmostdismally。JustnowsheregardedallmankindasherenemiesandIdonotblameher，sowhenthematadorecameprancingtowardsherwiththeredhandkerchiefflyingattheendofhislonglance，shethrewupherhead，andgaveamostappropriate“Moo!“Tommyrodegallantlyather，andTobyrecognizinganoldfriend，wasquitewillingtoapproach；butwhenthelancecamedownonherbackwithaloudwhack，bothcowanddonkeyweresurprisedanddisgusted。Tobybackwithabrayofremonstrance，andButtercuploweredherhornsangrily。
“Atheragain，Tom；she’sjollycross，andwilldoitcapitally!“calledDan，comingupbehindwithanotherrod，whileJackandNedfollowedhisexample。
Seeingherselfthusbeset，andtreatedwithsuchdisrespect，Buttercuptrottedroundthefield，gettingmoreandmorebewilderedandexcitedeverymoment，forwhicheverwaysheturned，therewasadreadfulboy，yellingandbrandishinganewandverydisagreeablesortofwhip。Itwasgreatfunforthem，butrealmiseryforher，tillshelostpatienceandturnedthetablesinthemostunexpectedmanner。Allatonceshewheeledshortround，andchargedfullatheroldfriendToby，whoseconductcuthertotheheart。PoorslowTobybackedsoprecipitatelythathetrippedoverastone，anddownwenthorse，matadore，andall，inoneignominiousheap，whiledistractedButtercuptookasurprisingleapoverthewall，andgallopedwildlyoutofsightdowntheroad。
“Catchher，stopher，headheroff!run，boys，run!“shoutedDan，tearingafterherathisbestpace，forshewasMr。Bhaer’spetAlderney，andifanythinghappenedtoher，Danfeareditwouldbealloverwithhim。Sucharunningandracingandbawlingandpuffingastherewasbeforeshewascaught!Thefish-poleswereleftbehind；Tobywastrottednearlyoffhislegsinthechase；andeveryboywasred，breathless，andscared。TheyfoundpoorButtercupatlastinaflowergarden，whereshehadtakenrefuge，wornoutwiththelongrun。Borrowingaropeforahalter，Danledherhome，followedbyapartyofverysoberyounggentlemen，forthecowwasinasadstate，havingstrainedhershoulderjumping，sothatshelimped，hereyeslookedwild，andherglossycoatwaswetandmuddy。
“You’llcatchitthistime，Dan，“saidTommy，asheledthewheezingdonkeybesidethemaltreatedcow。
“Sowillyou，foryouhelped。“
“Wealldid，butDemi，“addedJack。
“Heputitintoourheads，“saidNed。
“Itoldyounottodoit，“criedDemi，whowasmostbroken-heartedatpoorButtercup’sstate。
“OldBhaerwillsendmeoff，Iguess。Don’tcareifhedoes，“mutteredDan，lookingworriedinspiteofhiswords。
“We’llaskhimnotto，allofus，“saidDemi，andtheothersassentedwiththeexceptionofStuffy，whocherishedthehopethatallthepunishmentmightfallononeguiltyhead。Danonlysaid，“Don’tbotheraboutme；“
butheneverforgotit，eventhoughheledtheladsastrayagain，assoonasthetemptationcame。
WhenMr。Bhaersawtheanimal，andheardthestory，hesaidverylittle，evidentlyfearingthatheshouldsaytoomuchinthefirstmomentsofimpatience。
Buttercupwasmadecomfortableinherstall，andtheboyssenttotheirroomstillsupper-time。Thisbriefrespitegavethemtimetothinkthematterover，towonderwhatthepenaltywouldbe，andtotrytoimaginewhereDanwouldbesent。Hewhistledbrisklyinhisroom，sothatnooneshouldthinkhecaredabit；butwhilehewaitedtoknowhisfate，thelongingtostaygrewstrongerandstronger，themoreherecalledthecomfortandkindnesshehadknownhere，thehardshipandneglecthehadfeltelsewhere。
Heknewtheytriedtohelphim，andatthebottomofhishearthewasgrateful，buthisroughlifehadmadehimhardandcareless，suspiciousandwilful。
Hehatedrestraintofanysort，andfoughtagainstitlikeanuntamedcreature，evenwhileheknewitwaskindlymeant，anddimlyfeltthathewouldbethebetterforit。Hemadeuphismindtobeturnedadriftagain，toknockaboutthecityashehaddonenearlyallhislife；aprospectthatmadehimknithisblackbrows，andlookaboutthecosylittleroomwithawistfulexpressionthatwouldhavetouchedamuchharderheartthanMr。Bhaer’sifhehadseenit。Itvanishedinstantly，however，whenthegoodmancamein，andsaidinhisaccustomedgraveway，­；
“Ihaveheardallaboutit，Dan，andthoughyouhavebrokentherulesagain，Iamgoingtogiveyouonemoretrial，topleaseMotherBhaer。“
Danflusheduptohisforeheadatthisunexpectedreprieve，butheonlysaidinhisgruffway，­；
“Ididn’tknowtherewasanyruleaboutbull-fighting。“
“AsIneverexpectedtohaveanyatPlumfield，Ineverdidmakesucharule，“answeredMr。Bhaer，smilinginspiteofhimselfattheboy’sexcuse。
Thenheaddedgravely，“Butoneofthefirstandmostimportantofourfewlawsisthelawofkindnesstoeverydumbcreatureontheplace。I
wanteverybodyandeverythingtobehappyhere，toloveandtrust，andserveus，aswetrytoloveandtrustandservethemfaithfullyandwillingly。
Ihaveoftensaidthatyouwerekindertotheanimalsthananyoftheotherboys，andMrs。Bhaerlikedthattraitinyouverymuch，becauseshethoughtitshowedagoodheart。Butyouhavedisappointedusinthat，andwearesorry，forwehopedtomakeyouquiteoneofus。Shallwetryagain？“
Dan’seyeshadbeenonthefloor，andhishandsnervouslypickingatthebitofwoodhehadbeenwhittlingasMr。Bhaercamein，butwhenheheardthekindvoiceaskthatquestion，helookedupquickly，andsaidinamorerespectfultonethanhehadeverusedbefore，­；
“Yes，please。“
“Verywell，then，wewillsaynomore，onlyyouwillstayathomefromthewalkto-morrow，astheotherboyswillandallofyoumustwaitonpoorButtercuptillsheiswellagain。“
“Iwill。“
“Now，godowntosupper，anddoyourbest，myboy，moreforyourownsakethanforours。“ThenMr。Bhaershookhandswithhim，andDanwentdownmoretamedbykindnessthanhewouldhavebeenbythegoodwhippingwhichAsiahadstronglyrecommended。
Dandidtryforadayortwo，butnotbeingusedtoit，hesoontiredandrelapsedintohisoldwilfulways。Mr。Bhaerwascalledfromhomeonbusinessoneday，andtheboyshadnolessons。Theylikedthis，andplayedhardtillbedtime，whenmostofthemturnedinandsleptlikedormice。
Dan，however，hadaplaninhishead，andwhenheandNatwerealone，heunfoldedit。
“Lookhere!“hesaid，takingfromunderhisbedabottle，acigar，andapackofcards，“I’mgoingtohavesomefun，anddoasIusedtowiththefellowsintown。Here’ssomebeer，Igotifoftheoldmanatthestation，andthiscigar；youcanpayfor’emorTommywill，he’sgotheapsofmoneyandIhaven’tacent。I’mgoingtoaskhimin；no，yougo，theywon’tmindyou。“
“Thefolkswon’tlikeit，“beganNat。
“Theywon’tknow。DaddyBhaerisaway，andMrs。Bhaer’sbusywithTed；
he’sgotcrouporsomething，andshecan’tleavehim。Weshan’tsituplateormakeanynoise，sowhere’stheharm？“
“Asiawillknowifweburnthelamplong，shealwaysdoes。“
“No，shewon’t，I’vegotadarklanternonpurpose；itdon’tgivemuchlight，andwecanshutitquickifwehearanyonecoming，“saidDan。
ThisideastruckNatasafineone，andlentanairofromancetothething。HestartedofftotellTommy，butputhisheadinagaintosay，­；
“YouwantDemi，too，don’tyou？“
“No，Idon’t；theDeaconwillrollupeyesandpreachifyoutellhim。
Hewillbeasleep，sojusttipthewinktoTomandcutbackagain。“
Natobeyed，andreturnedinaminutewithTommyhalfdressed，rathertousledabouttheheadandverysleepy，butquitereadyforfunasusual。
“Now，keepquiet，andI’llshowyouhowtoplayafirst-rategamecalled’Poker，’“saidDan，asthethreerevellersgatheredroundthetable，onwhichweresetforththebottle，thecigar，andthecards。“Firstwe’llallhaveadrink，thenwe’lltakeagoatthe’weed，’andthenwe’llplay。
That’sthewaymendo，andit’sjollyfun。“
Thebeercirculatedinamug，andallthreesmackedtheirlipsoverit，thoughNatandTommydidnotlikethebitterstuff。Thecigarwasworsestill，buttheydarednotsayso，andeachpuffedawaytillhewasdizzyorchoked，whenhepassedthe“weed“ontohisneighbor。Danlikedit，foritseemedlikeoldtimeswhenhenowandthenhadachancetoimitatethelowmenwhosurroundedhim。Hedrank，andsmoked，andswaggeredasmuchlikethemashecould，and，gettingintothespiritofthepartheassumed，hesoonbegantoswearunderhisbreathforfearsomeoneshouldhearhim。“Youmustn’t；it’swickedtosay’Damn!’“criedTommy，whohadfollowedhisleadersofar。
“Oh，hang!don’tyoupreach，butplayaway；it’spartofthefuntoswear。“
“I’drathersay’thunder­；turtles，’“saidTommy，whohadcomposedthisinterestingexclamationandwasveryproudofit。
“AndI’llsay’TheDevil；’thatsoundswell，“addedNat，muchimpressedbyDan’smanlyways。
Danscoffedattheir“nonsense，“andsworestoutlyashetriedtoteachthemthenewgame。
ButTommywasverysleepy，andNat’sheadbegantoachewiththebeerandthesmoke，soneitherofthemwasveryquicktolearn，andthegamedragged。Theroomwasnearlydark，forthelanternburnedbadly；theycouldnotlaughloudnormoveaboutmuch，forSilassleptnextdoorintheshed-chamber，andaltogetherthepartywasdull。InthemiddleofadealDanstoppedsuddenly，andcalledout，“Who’sthat？“inastartledtone，andatthesamemomentdrewtheslideoverthelight。Avoiceinthedarknesssaidtremulously，“Ican’tfindTommy，“andthentherewasthequickpatterofbarefeetrunningawaydowntheentrythatledfromthewingtothemainhouse。
“It’sDemi!he’sgonetocallsomeone；cutintobed，Tom，anddon’ttell!“criedDan，whiskingallsignsofthereveloutofsight，andbeginningtotearoffhisclothes，whileNatdidthesame。
Tommyflewtohisroomanddivedintobed，wherehelay，laughingtillsomethingburnedhishand，whenhediscoveredthathewasstillclutchingthestumpofthefestivecigar，whichhehappenedtobesmokingwhentherevelbrokeup。
Itwasnearlyout，andhewasabouttoextinguishitcarefullywhenNursey’svoicewasheard，andfearingitwouldbetrayhimifhehiditinthebed，hethrewitunderneath，afterafinalpinchwhichhethoughtfinishedit。
NurseycameinwithDemi，wholookedmuchamazedtoseetheredfaceofTommyreposingpeacefullyuponhispillow。
“Hewasn’ttherejustnow，becauseIwokeupandcouldnotfindhimanywhere，“saidDemi，pouncingonhim。