Nat had left the wharf to go to the ropewalk. Royce was usually at the ropewalk, and he needed Royce's help to lift a heavy crate of type back from the wharf to Master Edes' printshop. When he got to the ropewalk, Royce spotted him and threw a snowball at him. It hit him right in the shoulder in a spray of snow and ice. And it hurt. Nat couldn't help but curse. He charged at Royce and knocked him down onto the icy cobblestone street. A string of curses and shouts came from each boy as they tussled and rolled around, fighting.