CHAPTER XI.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 270, 6 June 1888, Page 3

CHAPTER XI.

'VOX KAIJCIIUJS IMCSIT.' Bkrwkjk and Eseombc took their afternoon ride, and nothing of any consequence occurred; bub i« the evening, having cnffa»od the billiard tablo at their hotel for two horns, while thoy were in the midst of ft quiet and friendly game a party of four entered the room and sat down, talking and making rude remarks on the game. The pla\ers, as a matter of course, took not the slightest notice oi them, and if .spoken to, as they occasionally wore in a somewhat disagreeably familiar bone, they .simply looked at the .speakers. They had finished the 'hundred up' they were playing. One impertinent young cub a^ked Berwick to hand over his cue, as ho and his friends intended to have a ' fourhanded frame.' A&tley said : ' Pardon me, gentlemen, my friend and I have engaged the table till ten o'clock, after which hour I shall be happy to band over to you.' Then thceo young sparks— specimens of the colonial ' larrikin ' element— began to abuse our friend?., interlarding their remarks with language anything but choice. At last they went a little too far, and one of them, addressing .Berwick, said : ' Do you think we arc going to be put down by a new-chum ? V> c know all about you ; you had better go home again. We know all about you.' 'Indeed,' said Astloy, rather amused, but, not desiring a ( scene.' ' Perhaps you w ill explain.' Then a \ile allusion was made to the proceedings oi the Dhotcc Court, but ere iho fellow "could complete his nenteneo,_ Escombc, o\ei flowing with generous indignanon, stepped up to him and gave him tathci n '-mai b tap under the chin, calling to him in a loud \oicc : ' Silence, you cur ! This gentleman U my friend, and "what you say is a lie. Tt you dare to say another word of the sorb I will bieak every bone in your cowardly body. ' And as he looked as if ho undoubtedly would do what ho said, the ' cur ' thought it best to back out of the door, his friends following at hip heel?-. They soon after returned with the landlord, who asked for an explanation. Upon Iwjombc making him acquainted with the circumstances, ho ordered the four youths to leave the room and the house, as he 'could not have gentlemen insulted thci c. ' \Yhilo this -was going on a crowd had collected, as crowd.-, will do, seeming to come horn nowhere, and, as is usual with crowds, they were anxiou- to know full particular. Seeing this, and thinking it a good opportunity of sen ing hi*. Iricnd, Escombe exclaimed : '(icutlemeu, I see you are desitous of knowing what has happened. My friend hcio has been \ilely insulted by one of these young blackguards ]usb departed. Knowing that thcic was no truth whatever in his remarks, I \enturcd to check him. Oui worthy friend, the proprictoi', will explain more fully should you desire it.' So saying, ho turned to re&umo his gamo with Astlcy, whispering to him to say nothing 1 until they weio alone again. It must not be concluded that Astloy had been quiet all tlii-. lime. When tho young ' larrikin ' Md j', mo to fetch the landlord, he was ifclow'.ng, but Escombe laid a hand on his ,v \ i .".mfdolaincd him, saying : ' \o, no, Astlcy, do not you interfere ; loa\c all to me.' 'But,' said Astlcy, 'it i* my affair, not you) -. ' 'Yes my boy, 1 returned his friend, ' butlean do moio good than you can. I will r-ee io all right.' And so ho did. Those W( rds which stuck in the younir 'cur's' throat were nc\ei uttcicd." He leainfc a lesson, and Astley ! lo^t nothing by the little scene. 'My dour Escombe, 1 said Astloy when the 100 m wa-, clcaicd of all but thom-o]\cs and the marker, ' how oau I thank you V 1 Come now , Astlny,' said his fi iend, 'no moioof (hat, iff all' right. Shall we play any moio ?' ' 1 don't feel up to any moic. lam quite shaky,' said Astloy. And shaky lie uas, foi lih temptu, generally so mild, had been fait ly roused only to be iepic>sed, an action I which has the' effect of unhinging the \ nerves somew hat. ' I think a gla«s of beer will do us both good, old fellow.' So <-a>ing Escombe linkod bib arm in i that of liis friend and thoy departed.