s　he　could；　whipsawing　it　back　and　forth。

Harry　landed　on　Wharton's　back；　wrapping　one　hand　in　our　new　boy's　greasy　blond　hair　and　slamming　his　other　fist　into　the　side　of　Wharton's　face　as　hard　as　he　could。　He　had　both　a　baton　of　his　own　and　a　sidearm　pistol；　but　in　his　excitement　drew　neither。　We'd　had　trouble　with　prisoners　before；　you　bet；　but　never　one　who'd　taken　any　of　us　by　surprise　the　way　that　Wharton　did。　The　man's　slyness　was　beyond　our　experience。　I　had　never　seen　its　like　before；　and　have　never　seen　it　again。

And　he　was　strong。　All　that　slack　looseness　was　gone。　Harry　said　later　that　it　was　like　jumping　onto　a　coiled　nest　of　steel　springs　that　had　somehow　e　to　life。　Wharton；　now　inside　and　near　the　duty　desk；　whirled　to　his　left　and　flung　Harry　off。　Harry　hit　the　desk　and　went　sprawling。

〃Whoooee；　boys！〃　Wharton　laughed。　〃Ain't　this　a　party；　now？　Is　it；　or　what？〃

Still　screaming　and　laughing；　Wharton　went　back　to　choking　Dean　with　his　chain。　Why　not？　Wharton　knew　what　we　all　knew：　they　could　only　fry　him　once。

〃Hit　him；　Percy；　hit　him！〃　Harry　screamed；　struggling　to　his　feet。　But　Percy　only　stood　there；　hickory　baton　in　hand；　eyes　as　wide　as　soup…plates。　Here　was　the　chance　he'd　been　looking　for；　you　would　have　said；　his　golden　opportunity　to　put　that　tallywhacker　of　his　to　good　use；　and　he　was　too　scared　and　confused　to　do　it。　This　wasn't　some　terrified　little　Frenchman　or　a　black　giant　who　hardly　seemed　to　be　in　his　own　body；