"Rather!"
"Then come along."
Together they went into the stable, and therein found "The c.o.o.n," a coal-black negro, busily shovelling sand upon the floor, smoking an enormous cigar the while.
"Making ready the c.o.c.kpit," said Acton to Jack, who was staring open-eyed at the worker. "l.u.s.ty looking animal, eh?"
"My aunt!" said Jack.
"Hallo, c.o.o.n, you"re about ready!"
"Yaas, sir," said the negro. "I"m almost through."
"Brought the mittens with you, too?"
"Yaas, sir, I have the feather beds."
"Then when you"ve peeled we"ll start."
The c.o.o.n put down his spade and slipped behind a stall.
"You see, young "un, the sergeant at the gym is a good old hand, but he is an old hand, so to speak--hasn"t got the polish. Seeing that at Aldershot they tie us down to a very few rounds, if St. Amory"s have to make any show at all they must get all the points they can first round or so. That"s why I"ve got the c.o.o.n down here. He is the most scientific boxer we have."
"The figure will be pretty stiff, Acton, eh?"
"No matter about that if I can beat Jarvis. By the way, Bourne, you need not say anything about this to any one. I have particular reasons for keeping this quiet."
"All serene. I"m mum, of course."
"Thanks. You watch the c.o.o.n, and you"ll pick up no end of wrinkles."
The c.o.o.n came out from behind the stall dressed in a vest, trousers, and thin boots; his black arms were bare, and he had exchanged his cigar for a straw, which he chewed vigorously. Acton changed his shoes and took off his coat, and the lesson began.
Acton"s opinion of the c.o.o.n"s knowledge was, in Jack"s mind, absolutely corroborated by the display. His marvellous parrying of Acton"s attentions; his short step inwards, which invariably followed a mis-hit by Acton; his baits to lure his opponent to deliver himself a gift into his hands; his incredible ducking and lightning returns, held Bourne fascinated. Everything was done so easily, so lithely, so lightly, and so surely, that Jack gasped in admiration. Acton in the hands of the n.i.g.g.e.r was a lamb indeed.
"This is an eye-opener," said Jack. "I"ll try that left feint on Rogers, the c.o.c.ky a.s.s!"
The negro stopped now and then to show Acton where and how to avail himself of opportunities; and Acton, who was in grim earnest, applied himself whole-heartedly to the business in hand, and, in consequence, as Jack afterwards told us, "you could almost hear old Acton travelling on the right road."
After about half an hour of instruction, Acton said--
"That is enough of jawing for the afternoon, c.o.o.n. Let us have three rounds to finish up with. Take the time, young "un."
Jack, with immense pride, took out his watch and prepared to act as timekeeper.
"Better take it easily first two, sir, and put in all you know for the last. A little hurricane in the third round is my advice."
Jack had an ecstatic ten minutes, the final round putting him in the seventh heaven of enjoyment.
"All I could make out was Acton"s white arms mixed with Alabama"s black ones, and the sand flying in all directions. Stunning isn"t the word for it!"
As Acton and young Bourne pedalled leisurely home for roll call, Jack said--
"I think Jarvis" chance of collaring the Heavy for his place is a trifle "rocky.""
"I hope so."
"Crumbs! How Alabama does get home!"
CHAPTER XI
TODD PAYS THE BILL
Another youth had come back to St. Amory"s with resolutions as fixed and steady, though more legitimate than Acton"s. Augustus Vernon Robert Todd returned to school with pockets more scantily lined than ever from the parental source, with his mind constantly fixed on the conversation which he had had with his house-master on that awful concluding day last term, and his chin still thrust out valiantly. Gus"s square chin meant an undeviating attention to serious study, and Gus, armed _cap-a-pie_, against all his old friends.
For Todd had taken his precautions. His watch--a gold one, "jewelled in numberless holes," as its owner pathetically remarked--had been left with the family jeweller for three bright golden sovereigns, an eight-and-six bra.s.s turnip, which went jolly well, although its tick was a trifle vigorous under Gus"s pillow, and an agreement. This doc.u.ment, drawn up by himself, Gus regarded as a very masterpiece of business-like ac.u.men. Gus could have his gold watch back again within the year by paying three sovereigns, and buying the bra.s.s turnip for half a sovereign, the profit accruing on this latter transaction being, as Gus explained proudly, the jeweller"s percentage on the loan. The family jeweller had informed Gus casually that he couldn"t keep a wife and growing family on such percentages, but to oblige, etc.
Todd received Mr. James Cotton blandly and politely, and Jim, in his heavy way, mistook this airiness for non-paying symptoms on Gus"s part.
"Had a good time, old c.o.c.k, during the holidays?"
"Beastly," said Gus.
"Governor rusty?"
"No end. Been making the will again, and leaving me out."
"Perry _fiasco_, eh?"
"Yes, and other things."
"Well, I hope you can pay up all you owe me, old chap."
"Oh yes!" said Gus. "I said I would keep my word, although you were so good as to have your doubts."
"All right, glad you can manage it."
"Here you are," said Gus, thrusting his hand into his pocket and bringing up his coins. "Three three for that rotten bet, and the other fifteen bob I owed you. It"s all there."
Cotton opened his eyes.
"You said the governor was rusty, Gus?"
"So he was, beastly; but I can pay you all the same."