“SEA URCHIN”

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3404, 15 December 1931, Page 6

“SEA URCHIN”

n n n By E. C. BULEY. nnnnnnnnnnnn:

CHAPTER XVIII (Continued.)

"Peter could teach those fellows how to use their hands properly," he said to the world at large. "Remember how you took me in hand, and made me learn to box a bit, Peter?" "Do you box, Gaunt?" Edsell asked quickly. "Let's show them the real thing then. What do you say?" "Why, I'm more than a stone heavier," Peter objected. "Ledgeways is more your size." "I thought we might have a bit of fun," Edsell replied, with a smile which he prolonged for a moment too long. It was the smile he invariably employed when somebody tried to withdraw from competition; and it held for Gaunt a quality very irritating. "Go on, Peter," Ledgeways urged, unaccountably eager. "I've got a set of light gloves in the cabin, if you prefer them to those pudding bags."

Peter looked round, to see if there were any dissentients. Everybody seemed to approve of the proposal, as far as he could see. Ledgeways had gone off for his set of gloves; and Peter had no doubt in his mind what Lord Ledgeways desired. He wanted to see his friend and benefactor, Edsell, displayed at a disadvantage for once; for Ledgeways knew what a formidable opponent Peter Gaunt was, even for a man of his own build.

"Sparring gloves, I think, Edsell," Peter said, conceding the main proposition. "Oh, let's do the thing properly," Edsell said. "Light gloves for me. Ronnie shall hold the watch; and perhaps Mr Despard would referee us, for five rounds down there."

"With pleasure," said Gregory Despard, with unusual animation. 'lt's an old job of mine, isn't it, Ann?" Ann nodded, and Peter thought he saw some traces of compunction in her face. She had no doubt, he knew that Edsell was about to display another of his many accomplishments. He went to his cabin and changed into a light jersey and shorts, uncertain whether to give an exhibition of pretty-pretty fisticuffs, or to hit Edsell where he felt it would do the man most good. Ronnie Scaife came to call him, and earnestly to beg him to "knock the blighter's head off." "I mean to say, Gaunt," he explained, "I've been told that you were a regular don. And this chap is asking for a lacing, don't you know." "We'll just see how he goes, Ronnie," Peter explained. "He may mean no harm; and if so, he shall come to none."

"Belt him just one," Ronnie implored. "Nobody will mind; not even Ledgeways. Why, he lured the chap into it." Peter shook his head; for he thought that he knew of somebody who would mind a good deal. "Get out, Ronnie," he ordered. "This is a bit of fun; so far."

But the atmosphere of the ship, when the two men faced one another in the improvised ring on the fore deck, was one of expectation. The very sailors and men from the engine room seemed aware of some rivalry between these two men; the slim graceful figure with the handsome face, and the sturdy broad-shouldered warrior, whose mouth was set, and whose brows frowned over watchful eyes. Shadloe, the novelist, called his own comment on the pair, as they began to fiddle at the word of commencement.

"Why Gaunt has got the fighting face on," he cried with astonishment. "I never saw him look like that before." "No," crowed Ledgeways, well pleased with his mischief. "But you don't know Peter; nor does Edsell. I do."

On that word Edsell rushed, seeking to take the bigger man by surprise. From that first onslaught Peter Gaunt had no doubt whatever of his purpose. Edsell wanted to humiliate him and to leave the marks of his humiliation upon his face. And he was so confident in his own skill and experience, in his deftness and speed that he made sure of doing it. So Peter Gaunt straightened his left arm, and held him off, going away on his toes with a lightness and speed which were amazing for so big a man. He took the blows Edsell aimed at his body so viciously upon his elbows and his gloves; and when crowded too closely, fell into a clinch. "Box, man," he murmured In Edsell's ear, before throwing him off, "this is no place for scrapping." "I'll get you, Gaunt, just the same," Edsell said in the same low tone; but there was fury in his voice.

As they came out of the holds, Edsell struck a fighter's blow, which he could only have learned from a fighting man—an uppercut which Peter avoided more by instinct than anticipation. As it was, the gloved knuckle grazed his chin as it flew upwards, and Peter knew that he had escaped a knock-out by the mere fraction of an inch.

That might be Dick Edscll's idea of fun, but it was not Peter Gaunt's. He stopped two more rushes, before the round was over, by the use of the straight left, but neglected the wide opening whioh Edsell left him on the second occasion. It was In Peter's mind that he could readily hold this

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man off through four more rounds; before the end of which Edsell would, no doubt, have calmed down considerably.

In his corner one of the engineers fussed about Peter, with a towel and a sponge. "I'm all right, man." Peter said a little irritably. "I'm in no need of fanning." "You won't be, Mr Gaunt, if he gets what he wants," said this impromptu second. "He's out to make a killing; can't you see it? Go and get him, that's my tip; before anything hap-' pens in his favour." Peter smiled. So this stranger was warmly on his side. He looked at the men about him and above him; they were all regarding him with partisan looks. He could feel the breatli of popular favour blowing upon him.

And then he turned his eyes to the group of four women. They were all interested in Richard Edsell, who was smiling at them, as they looked in his direction, talking together about him. It had always been like that, Peter reflected. He always seemed to have men on his side, and women against him. Perhaps not that; but on the side of somebody else. He wondered how it was —and Ronnie struck the gong.

Edsell sprang forward with unabated confidence. He was so sure of his own superiority that Peter wondered. Had he been set up against a bigger man than himself, and been treated to almost a disdainful defence, he would have known himself matched against a better man. In one round, and before that round had gone to its end. But Edsell was of stuff; only too clearly he mistook reluctance for inability to take the offensive. But he was quick and pertinacious.; and he was a very fit and speedy man. Two narrow escapes convinced Peter that he was playing a dangerous game; the second time he had to go into holds, when he desired to do nothing of the sort. He threw Edsell off in a sudden spat of anger; and Edsell came at him again, more recklessly than ever.

After the stopping blow with the piston left, Peter failed to step backwards. He set himself, and Edsell thought he had him. But Peter's right came across one hundredth part of a second too soon; as hard and accurate a blow as ever he had delievered. It was in him to repent it, as it connected with Edsell's jaw, and the man slumped to the deck, inert. "Then!" briskly remarked Gregory Despard, ignoring the intervening nins figures. "He'll be a lucky man if he can notice anything in forty minutes' time, Peter." Peter tore his gloves off, and tossed them angrily overboard. Edsell was being carried to his cabin; and Ann had taken charge of restorative measures. Peter could hear her clear voice calling for ice, and sal volatile, and one thing and another. He wondered whether she would have bothered, if the positions had been reversed. As it was, she did not even cast a look at him.

Yet he was surrounded by men, all openly jubilant. They slapped him on the back and told one another just what sort of blow had finished Richard Edsell. Ledgeways led the chorus of triumph.

"I thought you meant to let him off, Pete," he said reproachfully. "After I'd gone to no end of trouble to make the chance for you. Yes, I was afraid, sir, that you meant to play possum." Despard surveyed his nephew with a queer look. "You pay heavily for your pleasures, don't you, Ledgeways?" he asked.

"Maybe I do, Uncle Greg," grinned the head of the Despard family. "This time it was jolly well worth it, though." "You'll excuse me, perhaps, for wondering what Mr Edsell is doing here at all," Despard went on.

"Women, sir," Ledgeways promptly countered. "For that matter, why is his cousin Ann holding ice to the back of his head, at this very moment?" Ann appeared on the scene before her father could think of any rejoinder. She walked up to Peter, and said: —

"We are getting frightened down there; though I suppose there is nothing to be scared about. You understand these things, I expect; anyhow, you did all the damage. Will you kindly come down and help?" Peter followed the girl obediently, feeling a good deal like a murderer. But his compunction vanished when he saw Edsell, with Camilla holding smelling salts to his nose, while Moroy Myddelton manipulated an 100 paok. "He's all right, Ann," he said. '•'There are too many peoplo in this cabin. All of you go ploaso; you, too, Ann. I'll havo him right in a oouple of minutes. Send somebody with a bottle of ammonia. Hut you stay; only you." The final instruction was given to the engineer who had acted as Ills second. Tlio rest trooped out of the cabin, Ann last of all. She wore mi air of outrage, but she made to protest. As soon as the oabln wan otoftr, Peter lifted his voice In harsh command.

"Come on, Edsell," ho said, "Snap out of it." "Do you mean to say that he s shamming?" asked the engineer.

"More or less," Peter said. "A good sniff of ammonia, and a vigorous twist of his ears would bring him out of it with a yell. There's no hurry, though. I sent the ladies away because it's not always a pretty thing, to see a man come back. Here he comes; I'll clear out. He won't want to see me, when he opens his eyes." lie went, on deck and reported that Edsell had regained consciousness, and only needed undisturbed rest. Camilia sobbed with relief. "I thought you had killed him," she whimpered in her high-pitched voice. "I (.nought Unit you had killed him." Peter looked at Ann, but she refrained from any expression of opinion. "You might have killed him," Camilla Insisted. "Then It's u pity 1 didn't," Peter hoard himself say; though he had no Intention of saying anything of the not-1. And then Ledgeways carried him off, In administer a whisky and HOllUi "Drink It, right down. Peter boy." ho urged. "That's the first lime I ever knew you lose your grip ov. yourself." "And the h>st time 's one time 100 often," Peter said, emptying the proffered tumbler. (To be Continued.)