Part 10 (1/2)
Although I had no real fear of hie that fear and its twin brother worry are man's worst opponents--I was a little uncertain as to what the outcoered However, I was in no mind to be interfered with
He thumped his heavy fist on the table
”'And that over,--quick,” he roared
His great jaws claether and his thick, discoloured lips became compressed
”Why!--certainly,with slow deliberation ”Which will you have first:--the bread and cheese, or the ale?”
”'Twere the ale I arst and it's th' ale I wants,--and blamed quick about it or I'll know the reason w'y”
”Stupid of me!” I remarked ”I should have known you wanted the ale first Here you are, enial, handso tureat, grimy paw to take it, I tossed the stuff saping countenances of his supporters
He staggered back aered, I sent the tumbler on the same errand as the ale It smashed in a hundred pieces on the side of his broken nose, opening up an old gash there and sending a strea down over hisThe place was as quiet as a church during prayer I pushed into the open saloon, with the rean to roar He pulled off his coat, while half a dozen of his own kind endeavoured with dirty handkerchiefs and rags to mop the blood from his face
”Shut the door Don't let 'im away from 'ere,” he shouted ”I'll push his windpipe into his boots, I will Watch ainst the partition, the bar-tender slipped round the end of the counter
”Look here, guv'nor,” he whispered with good intent, ”the back door's open,--run like the devil”
I turned to him in mild surprise
”Don't be an ijit,” he went on ”Git Why! he's Tommy Flynn, the champion rib cracker and face pusher of Harlford, here on his holidays”
”Tommy Flynn,” I answered, ”To to stand up and get hit, are you?”
”What else is there for ly
”Lor' luood-bye and washes my hands clean of you” And he went round behind the counter in disgust, spitting a the sawdust
By this time, Tommy Flynn, the cha up his sleeves businesslike and thrusting off his nuet at me
”'Ere, Splotch,” he cried to a one-eyed bosoles the puddins out of this kid with a left 'ander
My heye!--'e won't be no bloorinned at me a few times in order to hypnotise me with his beauty and to instil in ot to work in earnest Then, by way of invitation, he thrust forward his jaw ale of his offer somewhat more quickly than he anticipated I struck hiht to his body But his chin was hard as flint and it bruised y and of an india-rubberlike flexibility
For my pains, he brushed rin of an ape on his brutish face
He threw up his aruard, feinted at me, and rushed in