Читать книгу A Lad of Mettle онлайн

10 страница из 64

‘Have you had enough?’ said Edgar, standing over him after another knock-down blow. ‘If not, get up, and I’ll repeat the dose.’

‘I’ve done for to-day,’ growled Rakes; ‘but I’ll be even with you for this, see if I don’t.’

‘Take your defeat like a man,’ said Edgar, ‘and drop bullying in the future. Where’s the bat?’ he added, turning to Will Brown.

But the boys would not let him bat. They cheered him and shook hands with him, and Edgar felt he had quickly made a position for himself in the school.

Bully Rakes slunk away with one or two companions, who had been tempted by his example to bully on a smaller scale, and were downcast at his defeat.

‘You’ll get into a row,’ said Will Brown to Edgar. ‘The chief can’t bear fighting, but when he hears the truth, I fancy he’ll side with you.’

‘He’ll hear the truth then,’ said Edgar. ‘I shall ask to see him when we reach school.’

‘I shouldn’t,’ said Will Brown. ‘None of the masters may have noticed it.’

‘It makes no difference to me whether they have noticed it or otherwise,’ said Edgar; ‘I shall tell the doctor all about it, if he will see me. It is the most straightforward way, as I have only been about a week in the school.’