Page:Hornung - Fathers of Men.djvu/307

 square up with you, and the sooner we get it done the better for all the lot of us."

Jan was at home. Something contracted ages ago; nay, something that he had brought with him into the world, something of his father, was breaking through the layer of the last five years. It had broken through before. It had helped him to fight his earliest battles. But it had never had free play in all these terms, or in the holidays between terms. This was neither home nor school; this was a bite of life as Jan would have had to swallow it if his old life had never altered. And all at once it was a strapping lad from the stables, an Alcides of his own kidney and no young gentleman, with whom the local Cacus had to reckon.

"Come on!" said he sullenly. "Let's see the colour o' yer coin, an' done with it."

Jan gave a conqueror's grin, yet knew in his heart that the tussle was still to come; and if he had brought a cap with him, instead of driving out bare-headed, this was the moment at which he would have given the peak a tug. He plunged his hand into the jingling pocket. He brought out a fistful of silver of all sizes, and one or two half-sovereigns. In the act he shifted his position, and happened to tread—but left his foot firmly planted—upon that ugly cudgel just as its owner stooped to pick it up and almost overbalanced in the attempt.

"Look out, mister! That's my little stick. I'd forgotten it was there."

"Had you? I hadn't," said Jan, one eye on his money and the other on his man. "You don't want it now, do you, Mulberry?"

"Not partic'ly."

"Then attend to me. There's your money. Not so fast!"