"
He needed all his faith a few minutes afterwards, when Hal came back
with the foaming jar.
"Now, young sir," said Whatman, with mock politeness, "you'll drink
best respects to us in this here cup of beer. Every drop, mind! What,
you won't have it? Here, Smith and Perkins, hold his head while I pour
it down. He's got to learn manners!"
Dick struggled violently in his captors' hands and almost got free.
But the men were too strong for him, and he was held fast.
Clenching his teeth and resolved to choke rather than swallow it he
waited till the cup was at his lips, and then, with a sudden jerk of
his head, knocked it aside and caused the stream of brown liquid to
fall on the dirty floor.
Whatman's answer to this was a violent blow that made blue and green
stars dance before the boy's eyes and almost stunned him.
"What is going on here?" said a stern voice in the doorway. Instantly
the men closed round the jar, hoping to hide it, but Macleod, the
Scotch foreman, was not easily hoodwinked.
"Drinking and fighting too. What do you mean by it?"
"It's this young rascal here," said Whatman. "Cheeking us and drinking
our beer."
Dick was too dazed to answer, but there was no need. Macleod had seen
the cowardly blow. "Your beer? And how did that jar get here at this
time of day? I shall report you, Whatman and Smith; you've had
warnings enough, I should say, but one of these times will be the last.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69