按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
resting lightly on my right leg and keeping my eye fixed steadily on
Conway's…in all of which I was faithfully following the instructions of Phil
Adams； whose father subscribed to a sporting journal。
Conway also threw himself into a defensive attitude； and there we
were； glaring at each other motionless； neither of us disposed to risk an
attack； but both on the alert to resist one。 There is no telling how long we
might have remained in that absurd position； had we not been interrupted。
It was a custom with the larger pupils to return to the play…ground after
school； and play baseball until sundown。 The town authorities had
prohibited ball…playing on the Square； and； there being no other available
place； the boys fell back perforce on the school…yard。 just at this crisis a
dozen or so of the Templars entered the gate； and； seeing at a glance the
belligerent status of Conway and myself； dropped bat and ball； and rushed
to the spot where we stood。
〃Is it a fight？〃 asked Phil Adams； who saw by our freshness that we
had not yet got to work。
〃Yes； it's a fight；〃 I answered； 〃unless Conway will ask Wallace's
pardon； promise never to hector me in future…and put back my hair！〃
This last condition was rather a staggerer。
〃I sha'n't do nothing of the sort；〃 said Conway； sulkily。
〃Then the thing must go on；〃 said Adams； with dignity。 〃Rodgers； as I
understand it； is your second； Conway？ Bailey； come here。 What's the row
about？〃
〃He was thrashing Binny Wallace。〃
〃No； I wasn't；〃 interrupted Conway； 〃but I was going to because he
knows who put Meeks's mortar over our door。 And I know well enough
who did it； it was that sneaking little mulatter！〃 pointing at me。
〃O； by George！〃 I cried； reddening at the insult。
〃Cool is the word；〃 said Adams； as he bound a handkerchief round my
head； and carefully tucked away the long straggling locks that offered a
64
… Page 65…
The Story of a Bad Boy
tempting advantage to the enemy。 〃Who ever heard of a fellow with such a
head of hair going into action！〃 muttered Phil； twitching the handkerchief
to ascertain if it were securely tied。 He then loosened my gallowses
（braces）； and buckled them tightly above my hips。 〃Now； then； bantam；
never say die！〃
Conway regarded these business…like preparations with evident
misgiving； for he called Rodgers to his side； and had himself arrayed in a
similar manner； though his hair was cropped so close that you couldn't
have taken hold of it with a pair of tweezers。
〃Is your man ready？〃 asked Phil Adams； addressing Rodgers。
〃Ready！〃
〃Keep your back to the gate； Tom；〃 whispered Phil in my car； 〃and
you'll have the sun in his eyes。〃
Behold us once more face to face； like David and the Philistine。 Look
at us as long as you may； for this is all you shall see of the combat。
According to my thinking； the hospital teaches a better lesson than the
battle…field。 I will tell you about my black eye； and my swollen lip； if you
will； but not a word of the fight。
You'll get no description of it from me； simply because I think it would
prove very poor reading； and not because I consider my revolt against
Conway's tyranny unjustifiable。
I had borne Conway's persecutions for many months with lamb…like
patience。 I might have shielded myself by appealing to Mr。 Grimshaw； but
no boy in the Temple Grammar School could do that without losing caste。
Whether this was just or not doesn't matter a pin； since it was so…a
traditionary law of the place。 The personal inconvenience I suffered from
my tormentor was nothing to the pain he inflicted on me indirectly by his
persistent cruelty to little Binny Wallace。 I should have lacked the spirit of
a hen if I had not resented it finally。 I am glad that I faced Conway； and
asked no favors； and got rid of him forever。 I am glad that Phil Adams
taught me to box； and I say to all youngsters： Learn to box； to ride； to pull
an oar； and to swim。 The occasion may come round； when a decent
proficiency in one or the rest of these accomplishments will be of service
to you。
65
… Page 66…
The Story of a Bad Boy
In one of the best books1 ever written for boys are these words：
〃Learn to box； then； as you learn to play cricket and football。 Not one
of you will be the worse； but very much the better； for learning to box well。
Should you never have to use it in earnest there's no exercise in the world
so good for the temper； and for the muscles of the back and legs。
〃As for fighting； keep out of it； if you can； by all means。 When the
time comes； if ever it should； that you have to say 'Yes' or 'No' to a
challenge to fight； say 'No' if you can…only take care you make it plain to
yourself why you say 'No。' It's a proof of the highest courage； if done from
true Christian motives。 It's quite right and justifiable； if done from a
simple aversion to physical pain and danger。 But don't say 'No' because
you fear a licking and say or think it's because you fear God； for that's
neither Christian nor honest。 And if you do fight； fight it out； and don't
give in while you can stand and see。〃
And don't give in when you can't！ say 1。 For I could stand very little；
and see not at all （having pommelled the school pump for the last twenty
seconds）； when Conway retired from the field。 As Phil Adams stepped up
to shake hands with me； he received a telling blow in the stomach； for all
the fight was not out of me yet； and I mistook him for a new adversary。
Convinced of my error； I accepted his congratulations； with those of
the other boys； blandly and blindly。 I remember that Binny Wallace
wanted to give me his silver pencil…case。 The gentle soul had stood
throughout the contest with his face turned to the fence； suffering untold
agony。
A good wash at the pump； and a cold key applied to my eye； refreshed
me amazingly。 Escorted by two or three of the schoolfellows； I walked
home through the pleasant autumn twilight； battered but triumphant。 As I
went along； my cap cocked on one side to keep the chilly air from my eye；
I felt that I was not only following my nose； but following it so closely；
that I was in some danger of treading on it。 I seemed to have nose enough
for the whole party。 My left cheek； also； was puffed out like a dumpling。 I
couldn't help saying to myself； 〃If this is victory； how about that other
fellow？〃
〃Tom；〃 said Harry Blake； hesitating。
66
… Page 67…
The Story of a Bad Boy
〃Well？〃
〃Did you see Mr。 Grimshaw looking out of the recitation…room
window just as we left the yard？〃
〃No was he； though？〃
〃I am sure of it。〃
〃Then he must have seen all the row。〃
〃Shouldn't wonder。〃
〃No； he didn't；〃 broke in Adams； 〃or he would have stopped it short
metre； but I guess be saw you pitching into the pump which you did
uncommonly strong…and of course be smelt mischief directly。〃
〃Well； it can't be helped now；〃 I reflected。
〃…As the monkey said when he fell out of the cocoanut tree；〃 added
Charley Marden； trying to make me laugh。
It was early candle…light when we reached the house。 Miss Abigail；
opening the front door； started back at my hilarious appearance。 I tried to
smile upon her sweetly； but the smile； rippling over my swollen cheek； and
dying away like a spent wave on my nose； produced an expression of
which Miss Abigail declared she had never seen the like excepting on the
face of a Chinese idol。
She hustled me unceremoniously into the presence of my grandfather
in the sitting…room。 Captain Nutter； as the recognized professional warrior
of our family； could not consistently take me to task for fighting Conway；
nor was he disposed to do so；