Part 63 (1/2)
But they did not begin, for the idea that they really were about to er, and as they dropped their hands to raise theain as fists, neither liked to strike the first blow
Suddenly an idea struck Aleck as he glanced sidewise to see their shadows stretched out in a horribly grotesque, distorted form upon the dark water, and he sated into clubs, while he said, suddenly:
”I say, I don't want, you to think me a coward”
”Very well, then, you had better show you are not by fighting hard to keep ”
”You can't do it,” said Aleck; ”but _I_ say I don't want to fight”
”Perhaps not; but you'll soon find you'll have to, or I shall call you the greatest coward I ever saw”
”But it sees worse by knocking one another about”
”Well, yes, perhaps it does,” replied the hting you,” said Aleck
”What could you do?”
”Put the rope round ood”
”You daren't do it?”
”Yes, I dare,” cried Aleck, ”and I will if you'll say that it's as brave as fighting you”
”I don't knohether it's as brave,” said the h! I wouldn't try that again for anything”
”Very well, then, I will,” said Aleck, stoutly ”You in trying to knock you about
There, put down your hands, I'ht”
”You're beaten then”
”Not a bit of it I' to show you that I'm not a coward”
”No, you're not,” said thewhich Aleck ran to the rock and brought back the now dry rope in its loose coil
To his surprise the htly to try and jerk it away
”What are you going to do?” said Aleck, in wonder
”Put it back,” said theto make me seem a coward now”
”I don't understand you”
”Do you think I' to be such a coward as to let you do what I'o again?”