the major-第7节

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was　something　quite　other　than　this。　　He　knew　that　from　the　first　moment　of　the　bout　he　would　be　fighting。　　That　this　undoubtedly　would　make　Mop　fight　back；　and　he　was　haunted　by　the　fear　that　in　the　stress　of　battle　he　might　play　the　coward。　　Would　he　be　able　to　stand　up　to　Mop　when　the　fight　began　to　go　against　him？　　And　suppose　he　should　run　away；　should　show　himself　a　coward？　How　could　he　ever　live　after　that；　how　look　any　of　the　boys　in　the　face？　　Worst　of　all；　how　could　he　face　his　father；　whose　approval　in　this　boxing　game　since　he　had　revealed　himself　as　a　〃fighting　man〃　the　boy　coveted　more　than　anything　else。　　But　his　father　was　not　present　when　the　boy　stepped　into　the　ring。　　Impelled　by　the　dread　of　showing　himself　a　coward　and　running　away；　Larry　flung　to　the　winds　his　father's　favourite　maxim；　〃Let　your　heels　save　your　head；〃　a　maxim　which　ought　if　ever　to　be　observed　in　such　a　bout　as　this　in　which　he　was　so　out…classed　in　weight。

At　the　word　〃Time〃　Larry　leaped　for　his　opponent　and　almost　before　Mop　was　aware　that　the　battle　had　begun　he　was　being　blinded；　staggered　and　beaten　all　around　the　ring；　and　only　a　lucky　blow；　flung　wildly　into　space　and　landing　heavily　upon　Larry's　face；　saved　him　from　complete　defeat　in　the　first　round。　　That　single　heavy　blow　was　sufficient　to　give　temporary　pause　to　Larry's　impetuosity；　but　as　soon　as　he　got　back　his　wind　he　once　more　ran　in；　feinting；　ducking；　plunging；　but　ever　pressing　hard　upon　his　antagonist；　who；　having　recovered　from　his　first　surprise；　began　to　plant　heavy　blows　upon　Larry's　ribs；　until　at　the　end　of　the　round　the　boy　was　glad　enough　to　sink　back　into　his　corner　gasping　for　breath。

Ben　Hopper；　who　was　acting　as　Larry's　second；　was　filled　with　surprise　and　indignation　at　his　principal's　fighting　tactics。　〃You　blame　fool；〃　he　said　to　Larry　as　he　ministered　to　his　all　too　apparent　necessities。　　〃What　do　you　think　you're　doing？　　Do　you　think　he's　a　sausage　machine　and　you　a　bloody　porker？　　Keep　away　from　him。　　You　know　he's　too　heavy　for　you。　　If　he　were　not　so　clumsy　he　would　have　had　you　out　before　this。　　One　good　punch　from　him　would　do　it。　　Why　don't　you　do　your　foot　work？〃

〃Corec；〃　said　Joe。　　〃Larree；　you　fight　all　the　same　Mack　Morrison's　ram。　　Head　down；　jump　inhead　down；　jump　in。　　Why　you　run　so　queek　on　dat　Mop　feller？　　Why　you　not　make　him　run　after　you？〃

〃He's　right；　Larry；〃　said　Ben。　　〃Use　your　feet；　make　him　come　after　you。　　You　will　sure　get　his　wind。〃

But　Larry　stood　recovering　his　breath；　glowering　meanwhile　at　his　enemy　across　the　ring。　　He　neither　heeded　nor　heard　the　entreaties　of　his　friends。　　In　his　ears　one　phrase　only　rang　with　insistent　reiteration。　　〃He's　a　coward；　an'　his　mother's　a　coward　before　him。〃　　Only　one　obsession　possessed　him；　he　must　keep　hard　at　his　enemy。

〃Time！〃　　The　second　round　was　on。　　Like　a　tiger　upon　his　prey；　Larry　was　upon　his　foe；　driving　fast　and　furious　blows　upon　his　head　and　face。　　But　this　time　Mop　was　ready　for　him；　and　bearing　in；　head　down；　he　took　on　his　left　guard　the　driving　blows　with　no　apparent　injury；　and　sent　back　some　half　a　dozen　heavy　swings　that　broke　down　Larry's　guard；　drove　him　across　the　ring　and　finally　brought　him　gasping　to　his　knees。

〃Stay　where　you　are；〃　yelled　Ben。　　〃Take　your　count；　Larry；　and　keep　away　from　him。　　Do　you　hear　me？　　Keep　away；　always　away。〃

At　the　ninth　count　Larry　sprang　to　his　feet；　easily　eluded　Mop's　swinging　blow；　and　slipping　lightly　around　the　ring；　escaped　further　attack　until　he　had　picked　up　his　wind。

〃That's　the　game；〃　yelled　Ben。　　〃Keep　it　up；　old　boy；　keep　it　up。〃

〃C'est　bon　stuff；　Larree；〃　yelled　Joe；　dancing　wildly　in　Ben's　corner。　　〃C'est　bon　stuff；　Larree；　for　sure。〃

But　once　more　master　of　his　wind；　Larry　renewed　his　battering　assault　upon　Mop's　head；　inflicting　some　damage　indeed；　but　receiving　heavy　punishment　in　return。　　The　close　of　the　round　found　him　exhausted　and　bleeding。　　In　spite　of　the　adjurations　and　entreaties　of　his　friends；　Larry　pursued　the　same　tactics　in　the　third　round；　which　ended　even　more　disastrously　than　the　second。　His　condition　was　serious　enough　to　bring　Mack　Morrison　to　his　side。

〃What's　up　with　you；　Larry？〃　said　Mack。　　〃Where's　your　science　gone？　　Why　don't　you　play　the　game　as　you　know　it？〃

〃Mack；　Mack；〃　panted　Larry。　　〃It　ain't　a　game。　　I'mI'm　fighting；　and；　Mack；　I'm　not　afraid　of　him。〃

Mack　whistled。　　〃Who　said　you　are　afraid　of　him；　youngster？〃

〃He　did；　Mack；　he　called　me　a　cowardyou　remember；　Ben；　up　in　the　cedar　bush　that　day　we　played　hookeyyou　remember；　Ben？〃　　Ben　nodded。　　〃He　called　me　a　coward　and〃grinding　the　words　between　his　teeth〃he　called　my　mother　a　coward。　　But　I　am　not　afraid　of　him；　Mackhe　can't　make　me　afraid；　he　can't　make　me　run　away。〃　What　with　his　rage　and　his　secret　fear；　the　boy　had　quite　lost　control　of　himself。

〃So　that's　it；〃　said　Mack；　reading　both　rage　and　fear　in　his　eyes。　〃Listen　to　me；　Larry；〃　he　continued　in　a　voice　low　and　stern。　　〃You　quit　this　monkey　work　right　now　or；　by　the　jumping　Jehoshaphat；　I　will　lick　the　tar　out　of　you　myself　when　this　is　over。　　You're　not　afraid　of　him；　I　know　thatwe　all　know　that。　　But　you　don't　want　to　kill　him；　eh？　　No。　　What　you　want　is　to　make　him　look　like　a　fool。　　Well；　then；　fight；　if　you　want　to　fight；　but　remember　your　rules。　　Play　with　him；　make　him　follow　you　round　until　you　get　his　wind；　there's　your　chance。　　Then　get　him　hard　and　get　away。〃

But　the　boy　spoke　no　word　in　reply。　　He　was　staring　gloomily；　desperately；　before　him　into　space。

Mack　seized　him；　and　shaking　him　impatiently；　said；　〃Larry　boy；　listen　to　me。　　Don't　you　care　for　anybody　but　yourself？　　Don't　you　care　for　me　at　all？〃

At　that　Larry　appeared　to　wake　up　as　from　a　sleep。

〃What　did　you　say；　Mack？〃　he　answered。　　〃Of　course　I　care；　you　know　that；　Mack。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Mack；　〃for　God's　sake；　get　a　smile　on　your　face。　Smile；　confound　you；　smile。〃

The　boy　passed　his　gloved　hand　over　his　face；　looked　for　a　moment　into　Mack's　eyes；　and　the　old　smile　came　back　to　his　lips。

〃Now　you're　all　right；〃　cried　Mack　in　triumph。　　〃Remember　your　father's　rule；　'Keep　your　head　with　your　heels。'〃　　And　Larry　did　remember！　　For　on　the　call　of　〃Time〃　he　slipped　from　Ben's　knees　and　began　to　circle　lightly　about　Mop；　smiling　upon　him　and　waiting　his　chance。　　His　chance　soon　came；　for　Mop；　thinking　that　his　enemy　had　had　about　enough　and　was　ready　to　quit；　adopted　aggressive　tactics；　and；　feinting　with　his　right；　swung　heavily　with　his　left　at　the　smiling　face。　　But　the　face　proved　elusive；　and　upon　Mop's　undefended　head　a　series　of　blows　dealt　with　savage　fury　took　all　the　heart　out　of　him。　　So　he　cried　to　the　referee　as　he　ducked　into　his　corner：

〃He's　fightin'。　　He's　fightin'。　　I'm　not　fightin'。〃

〃You'd　better　get　busy　then；〃　called　Ben　derisively　from　his　corner。　　〃Now；　Larry；　sail　into　him；〃　and　Larry　sailed　in　with　such　vehemence　that　Mop　fairly　turned　tail　and　ran　around　the　ring；　Larry　pursuing　him　amid　the　delighted　shouts　of　the　spectators。

This　ended　the　contest；　the　judges　giving　the　decision　to　Mop；　who；　though　obviously　beaten　at　the　finish；　had　showed　a　distinct　superiority　on　points。　　As　for　Larry；　the　decision　grieved　him　not　at　all。　　He　carried　home　a　face　slightly　disfigured　but　triumphant；　his　sole　comment　to　his　mother　upon　the　contest　being；　〃I　was　not　afraid　of　him　anyway；　mother；　he　could　not　make　me　run。〃

〃I　am　not　so　sure　of　this　boxing；　Lawrence；〃　she　said；　but　the　boy　caught　the　glint　in　her　eyes　and　was　well　enough　content。

In　the　late　evening　Ben；　with　Larry　and　Joe　following　him；　took　occasion　to　look　in　upon　Mop　at　the　butcher　shop。

〃Say；　Mop；〃　said　Ben　pleasantly；　〃what　do　you　think　of　Larry　now？　Would　you　say　he　was　a　coward？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Mop；　suspecting　trouble。

〃Just　what　I　say；〃　said　Ben；　while　Larry　moved　up　within　range；　his　face　white；　his　eyes　gleaming。

〃I　ain't　saying　nothing　about　nobody；〃　replied　Mop　sullenly；　with　the　tail　of　his　eye　upon　Larry's　white　face　and　gleaming　eyes。

〃You　say　him　one　tamin　de　cedar　swamp；〃　said　Joe。

〃Would　you　say　Larry　was　a　coward？〃　repeated　Ben。

〃No；　I　wouldn't　say　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　replied　Mop　promptly。

〃Do　you　think　he　is　a　coward？〃　persisted　Ben。

〃No；〃　said　Mop；　〃I　know　he　ain't　no　coward。　　He　don't　fight　like　no　coward。〃

This　appeared　to　satisfy　Ben；　but　Larry；　moving　slightly　nearer；　took　up　the　word　for　himself。

〃And　would　you　say　my　mother　was　a　coward？〃　he　asked　in　a　tense　voice；　his　body　gathered　as　if　for　a　spring。

〃Larry；　I　wouldn't　say　nothing　about　your　mother；〃　replied　Mop　earnestly。　　〃I　think　your　mother's　a　bully　good　woman。　　She　was　awfully　good　to　my　mother　last　winter；　I　know。〃

The　spring　went　out　of　Larry's　body。　　He　backed　away　from　Mop　and　the　boys。

〃Who　said　your　mother　was　a　coward？〃　inquired　Mop　indignantly。　　〃If　anybody　says　so；　you　bring　him　to　me；　and　I'll　punch　his　head　good；　I　will。〃

Larry　looked　foolishly　at　Ben；　who　looked　foolishly　back　at　him。

〃Say；　Mop；〃　said　Larry；　a　smile　like　a　warm　light　passing　over　his　face；　〃come　on　up　and　see　my　new　rabbits。〃



CHAPTER　IV

SALVAGE


Another　and　greater　enterprise　was　diverting　Mr。　Gwynne's　attention　from　the　delin