"Better take it easily first two, sir, and put in all you know for the
last. A little hurricane in the third round is my advice."
Jack had an ecstatic ten minutes, the final round putting him in the
seventh heaven of enjoyment.
"All I could make out was Acton's white arms mixed with Alabama's black
ones, and the sand flying in all directions. Stunning isn't the word for
it!"
As Acton and young Bourne pedalled leisurely home for roll call, Jack
said--
"I think Jarvis' chance of collaring the Heavy for his place is a trifle
'rocky.'"
"I hope so."
"Crumbs! How Alabama does get home!"
CHAPTER XI
TODD PAYS THE BILL
Another youth had come back to St. Amory's with resolutions as fixed and
steady, though more legitimate than Acton's. Augustus Vernon Robert Todd
returned to school with pockets more scantily lined than ever from the
parental source, with his mind constantly fixed on the conversation which
he had had with his house-master on that awful concluding day last term,
and his chin still thrust out valiantly. Gus's square chin meant an
undeviating attention to serious study, and Gus, armed _cap-a-pie_,
against all his old friends.
For Todd had taken his precautions. His watch--a gold one, "jewelled in
numberless holes," as its owner pathetically remarked--had been left with
the family jeweller for three bright golden sovereigns, an eight-and-six
brass turnip, which went jolly well, although its tick was a trifle
vigorous under Gus's pillow, and an agreement.
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