"I never saw him," said Jan steadily, despite a thumping heart, "so you can say what you like."
And he took a heavy buffet from Shockley without wincing.
"And why should you lose your wool with poor old Mulberry?" that worthy demanded with a fine show of charity. "One would think there was something in what he said."
"You fairly stink of the racing stables," said Buggins. "You know you do, you brute!"
And Eyre major led a laugh.
"Racing-stables!" echoed Shockley. "There's more of the stable-boy about him than the jock."
Jan folded his arms and listened stoically.
"Ostler's lad," said one satirist.
"Nineteenth groom," from another.
"The tiger!" piped a smaller boy than Jan. "The tiger that sits behind the dog-cart—see how he folds his arms!"
And the imp folded his at the most untimely moment; for this was more than Jan was going to stand. Submission to superior force was a law of nature which his common sense recognised and his self-control enabled him to keep; but to take from a boy inches shorter than himself what had to be taken from one as many inches taller, just because they were all against him, was further than his forbearance would go. His flat left hand flew out as the smaller boy folded his arms, and it fell with a resounding smack upon the side of an undefended head.
Within the fewest possible moments Jan had been pinned against the palings by the bigger fellows, his arm twisted, his person violently kicked, his own ears soundly boxed and filled with abuse. This was partly because he fought and kicked as long as he had a free leg or arm.
