Acton's Feud: A Public School Story

ar fellow in the place, but poor Phil was looked coldly upon by those who had been his chiefest friends, and, by those who knew little of him, he passed for a jealous bounder.

till one or two friends, who condoned his passing of Acton for the "footer" cap on the ground of "insufficient information" th

r ill-favour into channels favourable to himself and unfavourable for Phil. A lucky chance seemed to op

ck Bourne engaged in a desperate fight with a young yokel. There was a small crowd of loafers, who were deligh

hen he perceived that one of the fighters was a St. Amo

to the "agricultural" style of the clodhopper, was not taking nearly so much harm as he should have done. He was, however, pretty low down in the mouth, for there was not a friendly eye to

k, you little beggars, or I'll massacre the lot of you. Give the boy room, you filth

tch and assumed the d

the word I'll thrash you within an inch of your life. This will be ours, Bourne." He strode in

he path into the snow-heap when he saw I was one of

ly. "It's only wasting breath. Keep co

r so much better, so that when time was called he had taken no

wing you one in the face. You'll be snuffed out if you do. Keep him out at an

d wasted. The lout's face was as hard as a butcher's block. Acton saw that Bourne was visibly tiring, and that it

-he can't feel. You must try another trick. It's the last in your box, too, Bourne, so make no mistake. St. Amory's for ever! When he swings, duck. Don't try to ward him off-he'll beat you down. Then, for al

d Jack, cooll

im

sh the "swell" this round. He swung. Bourne ducked, and then, quick as lightning, the lad close

on't give him time, Jack.

Jack's blows. He backed, Jack scoring like mad all the time, and when Acton finally called "time!" he dropped on

Him Into T

"You have him now, Bourne; he's too sick t

as paint from his success, following up the other blubbing with rage, pain, and s

then come here. He's don

came

the snow-heap. I suppose your pig's eyes couldn't see he was only half your size."

he snivelled obstinately, and str

logi

wow

a thundering cuff which sent him sprawling. Acton then caught him

ood fight this day, and no mistake. That fellow will have a fit t

e an awful brick to

ome tea with me, and I'll pour oil into yo

ann's the chemist's and brought back a camel's-hair brush and some lotion

ught Acton the finest

pounding the ugly brute into jelly, and made me go in and win when I was ready to giv

is young brother. I'll train him up in the way he should go, and when our unspeakable prig of a Philip sees what a beautiful article young Jack finally emerges, he'll wish he'd left me alone. Jack, my

essing, the fellows need not play the usual Thursday Old Game. As for cross-country running, paper chases, et hoc genus omne,

ublic School Heavy at Alder

dgson in fo

seriously to the business I'd back you. You're a

s Bourn

l is only pacing Hodgson t

d sure this year. A cousin of mine there says that their pet, Jar

s their us

or-who is up to all the latest dodges-to coach. Our sergeant is a bit o

nderstand the finer shades of the arts. Sho

ink I can make a decent show I'll have a shot. When do

ly try at Aldershot. But what has a fellow to do on the half-holidays now? No footer, and one might do enough practice

by his fireside. Not that he was particularly fond of toas

being allowed to cycle by themselves, and even to be chaperon to any fags who cared to run with them, and-importan

young Bourne, or Grim, or Wilson on the hired article, w

at his brother was gettin

n, Jack? I don't think

, anyho

ow

expla

ng 'un; but, all the same, I wish so

" said Ja

t attraction which a Sixth Form fellow sees in

t myself," said Jack, s

l the same, I would not dog Ac

a mo

u useful. Take

ll s

tainly w

d by his brother's dry bant

hil, why he didn't get

or you to understa

pinio

breath you're g

ed a shame pre

nt little toes into any scrape-that is all I wanted to tell you. Here is half a crown for you to buy butterscotch, and while you're suc

d down to the old Lodestone Farm, and as they pedalled in

en here since

said Acton. "Has he

ing it to right

n, turning to Jack, "ever

that fight in Hollan

very

the

lessons here. I'm going to try for the

the

come a

"The Coon," a coal-black negro, busily shovelling sa

to Jack, who was staring open-eyed at

t!" sai

n, you're a

d the negro. "I'

mittens wit

I have the f

ou've peeled

his spade and slip

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 a

l be pretty sti

, Bourne, you need not say anything about this to any

. I'm mum,

Coon, and you'll pick

; his black arms were bare, and he had exchanged his cigar for a straw, which he ch

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

Jack. "I'll try that left fe

cton, who was in grim earnest, applied himself whole-heartedly to the business in hand, and, in con

an hour of instru

oon, Coon. Let us have three rounds to f

took out his watch and pre

put in all you know for the last. A little

, the final round putting him in

d with Alabama's black ones, and the sand flying

pedalled leisurely home

collaring the Heavy for his

ope

Alabama doe