rab in chapter five

As time goes on, Johnny becomes more mature. One day Rab gently asks him why he goes around insulting people. Johnny thinks this over and decides to count to ten before saying anything the next time he gets angry.

One day, the butcher and his sons play a cruel trick on the Webb twins, two young apprentices at the print shop. They threaten to kill the twins’ cat. Rab and Johnny go and beat up the butcher and his sons. Johnny notices that Rab “was a born fighter—ferocious, utterly fearless, quick and powerful—but he didn’t fight often and he hadn’t much to say afterward” (112).