"I am, of course, a great fighter," I said, "and have only once been beaten, and that by West, who is a champion and nearly two years older than me. But I believe you would be a very good fighter if you cared about it."
"I never should care about it," said Saunders minor. "But the point is Foster. Supposing he refuses to fight?"
"My dear chap," I said, "he couldn’t. You’ve got a frightful grievance against him. The sixth, when they heard, would mighty soon make him fight."
"You’ll second me, Thwaites, if it comes off?"
Saunders minor began to think again, and his forehead became much furrowed.
"I’m just wondering, if I explained to my father about it, whether he’d still give me the watch if I succeeded in licking Foster," he said.
I told him that from what I knew of fathers like his it was very unlikely, and he’d better not hope.
"I have heard you say that your father is a clergyman," I said. "Don’t buoy yourself up to think that he’ll give you the watch if you lick Foster. Far from it. In the case of Morrison it was very different. His father always gave him half-a-crown if he went home with a black eye, and Morrison generally managed to do so; but then his father was a royal sea captain, and had commanded a first-class battleship. Your father is religious, naturally, and against fighting for certain."
It happened that just at this moment Foster and some other chaps, including his chum, Tin Lin Chow—commonly called ’Tinned Cow’—the Chinaman, came by, and Saunders minor, in the excitement of the moment, stopped Foster and spoke—
He said, "I’ve been thinking over losing the Good Conduct Prize, Foster; and as it was your fault, something must be done."
Foster said, "I’ve apologized. Nothing more can be done."
But Saunders minor said, "Much more can be done. In fact, I challenge you to fight; and Thwaites is my second, and West will referee."
"I’m bigger than you," he said. "It wouldn’t be fair. I’m bound to lick you if we have a real serious fight."
"You might lick me, no doubt," said Saunders minor. "But I shall do a bit first: and I dare say you’ll know what’ll happen then."
"The only thing that can happen is that you’ll have to give in," said Foster.
"Something else will happen besides that," answered Saunders minor. "However, you’ll see. To-morrow week in the wood, if that will suit you."