Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/169

 already, and Josh feinted a lead and avoided, bringing Leary round on his heel and off again in chase. Once more Josh met him, drove at his ribs and got away out of reach. Leary's wind was going fast, and his partisans howled savagely at Josh—perceiving his tactics—taunting him with running away, daring him to stand and fight. "I'll take that four to one," called a High Mobsman to him who had offered the odds in the beginning. "I'll stand a quid on Perrott!"

"Not with me, you won't," the other answered. "Evens, if you like."

"Right. Done at evens, a quid."

Perrott, stung at length by the shouts from Leary's corner, turned on Billy and met him at full dash. He was himself puffing by this, though much less than his adversary, and, at the cost of a heavy blow (which he took on his forehead), he visited Billy's ribs once more.

Both men were grunting and gasping