Part 61 (1/2)

Mr Tomplin came in that evening after Uncle d.i.c.k had heard all my narrative and Uncle Bob had walked up and down the room, driving his fist into his hand every now and then with a loud _pat_.

We had had a long conversation, in which I had taken part with a terribly aching head, and I should have gone to bed only I would not show the white feather.

For they all three made this a reason why I should give up to them, and after all go back.

”You see the men are dead against us, Cob, and the boys follow suit, and are against you.” So said Uncle d.i.c.k.

”All the men are not against you,” I said. ”Look at Pannell! He has come round, and,” I added, with a laugh that hurt me horribly, ”I shall have some of the boys come round and help me.”

”The young scoundrels!” cried Uncle Bob. _Pat_--that was his fist coming down into his hand. ”The young scoundrels!”

”Well, you've said that twenty times at least, Bob,” said Uncle Jack.

”Enough to make me!” said Uncle Bob sharply. ”The young scoundrels!”

_Pat_.

”I only wish I'd been there with a good handy riding-whip,” said Uncle Jack. ”There would have been some wailing among them.”

”Yes; and summonses for a.s.sault, and all that bother,” said Uncle d.i.c.k.

”We don't want to come to blows, Jack, if we can help it.”

”They are beyond bearing,” cried Uncle Bob, keeping up his walk; ”the young scoundrels!” _Pat_.

”My dear Bob,” cried Uncle d.i.c.k, who was very much out of temper; ”if you would be kind enough to leave off that trot up and down.”

”Like a hungry lion,” said Uncle Jack.

”In the Zoo,” cried Uncle d.i.c.k, ”you would very much oblige me.”

”I can't sit down,” said Uncle Bob, thumping his hand. ”I feel too much excited.”

”Then bottle it up for future use,” said Uncle d.i.c.k. ”You really must.”

”To attack and hurt the boy in that way! It's scandalous. The young ruffians--the young savages!”

Just then Mr Tomplin came in, looked sharply round, and saw there was something wrong.

”I beg your pardon,” he said quickly; ”I'll look in another time.”

”No, no,” said Uncle Bob. ”Pray sit down. We want your advice. A cruel a.s.sault upon our nephew here”--and he related the whole affair.

”Humph!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr Tomplin, looking hard at me.

”What should you advise--warrants against the ringleaders?”

”Summonses, Mr Robert, I presume,” said Mr Tomplin. ”But you don't know who they were?”

”Yes; oh, yes!” cried Uncle Bob eagerly. ”Two young Gentles.”