The Third String Read online

him 'ave 'is say, and that night theybrought 'ome two other sailormen wot 'ad bet agin Ginger to share theirroom, and, though they 'ad bet agin 'im, they was so fond of 'im that itwas evident that they wasn't going to leave 'im till the fight was over.

  Ginger gave up then, and at twelve o'clock next day they started off tofind the place. Mr. Webson, the landlord of the Jolly Pilots, a short,fat man o' fifty, wot 'ad spoke to Ginger once or twice, went with 'em,and all the way to the station he kept saying wot a jolly spot it was forthat sort o' thing. Perfickly private; nice soft green grass to beknocked down on, and larks up in the air singing away as if they'd neverleave off.

  They took the train to Homerton, and, being a slack time o' the day, theporters was surprised to see wot a lot o' people was travelling by it.So was Ginger. There was the landlords of 'arf the public-'ouses inWapping, all smoking big cigars; two dock policemen in plain clothes, wot'ad got the arternoon off--one with a raging toothache and the other witha baby wot wasn't expected to last the day out. They was as full o' funas kittens, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots pointed out to Gingerwot reasonable 'uman beings policemen was at 'art. Besides them therewas quite a lot o' sailormen, even skippers and mates, nearly all of 'emsmoking big cigars, too, and looking at Ginger out of the corner of oneeye and at the Wapping Basher out of the corner of the other.

  "Hit 'ard and hit straight," ses the landlord to Ginger in a low voice,as they got out of the train and walked up the road. "'Ow are youfeeling?"

  "I've got a cold coming on," ses pore Ginger, looking at the Basher, whowas on in front, "and a splitting 'eadache, and a sharp pain all down myleft leg. I don't think----"

  "Well, it's a good job it's no worse," ses the land-lord; "all you've gotto do is to hit 'ard. If you win it's a 'undered pounds in my pocket,and I'll stand you a fiver of it. D'ye understand?"

  They turned down some little streets, several of 'em going diff'rentways, and arter crossing the River Lea got on to the marshes, and, as thelandlord said, the place might ha' been made for it.

  A little chap from Mile End was the referee, and Bill Lumm, 'avingpeeled, stood looking on while Ginger took 'is things off and slowly andcarefully folded 'em up. Then they stepped toward each other, Billtaking longer steps than Ginger, and shook 'ands; immediately arter whichBill knocked Ginger head over 'eels.

  "Bill Lumm, 'aving peeled, stood looking on while Gingertook 'is things off."]

  "Time!" was called, and the landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was nursingGinger on 'is knee, said that it was nothing at all, and that bleeding atthe nose was a sign of 'ealth. But as it happened Ginger was that mad 'edidn't want any encouragement, he on'y wanted to kill Bill Lumm.

  He got two or three taps in the next round which made his 'ead ring, andthen he got 'ome on the mark and follered it up by a left-'anded punch onBill's jaw that surprised 'em both--Bill because he didn't think Gingercould hit so 'ard, and Ginger because 'e didn't think that prize-fighters'ad any feelings.

  They clinched and fell that round, and the land-lord patted Ginger on theback and said that if he ever 'ad a son he 'oped he'd grow up like 'im.

  Ginger was surprised at the way 'e was getting on, and so was old Sam andPeter Russet, and when Ginger knocked Bill down in the sixth round Samwent as pale as death. Ginger was getting marked all over, but he stuck,to 'is man, and the two dock policemen, wot 'ad put their money on BillLumm, began to talk of their dooty, and say as 'ow the fight ought to bestopped.

  At the tenth round Bill couldn't see out of 'is eyes, and kept wasting'is strength on the empty air, and once on the referee. Ginger watched'is opportunity, and at last, with a terrific smash on the point o'Bill's jaw, knocked 'im down and then looked round for the landlord'sknee.

  Bill made a game try to get up when "Time!" was called, but couldn't;and the referee, who was 'olding a 'andkerchief to 'is nose, gave thefight to Ginger.

  It was the proudest moment o' Ginger Dick's life. He sat there like aking, smiling 'orribly, and Sam's voice as he paid 'is losings sounded to'im like music, in spite o' the words the old man see fit to use. It wasso 'ard to get Peter Russet's money that it a'most looked as though therewas going to be another prize-fight, but 'e paid up at last and went off,arter fust telling Ginger part of wot he thought of 'im.

  There was a lot o' quarrelling, but the bets was all settled at last, andthe landlord o' the Jolly Pilots, who was in 'igh feather with the moneyhe'd won, gave Ginger the five pounds he'd promised and took him 'ome ina cab.

  "You done well, my lad," he ses. "No, don't smile. It looks as thoughyour 'ead's coming off."

  "I 'ope you'll tell Miss Tucker 'ow I fought," ses Ginger.

  "I will, my lad," ses the landlord; "but you'd better not see 'er forsome time, for both your sakes."

  "I was thinking of 'aving a day or two in bed," ses Ginger.

  "Best thing you can do," ses the landlord; "and mind, don't you everfight Bill Lumm agin. Keep out of 'is way."

  "Why? I beat 'im once, an' I can beat 'im agin," ses Ginger, offended.

  "Beat 'im?" ses the landlord. He took 'is cigar out of 'is mouth asthough 'e was going to speak, and then put it back agin and looked outof the window.

  "Yes, beat 'im," ses Ginger'. "You was there and saw it."

  "He lost the fight a-purpose," ses the landlord, whispering. "MissTucker found out that you wasn't a prize-fighter--leastways, I did for'er--and she told Bill that, if 'e loved 'er so much that he'd 'ave 'issinful pride took down by letting you beat 'im, she'd think diff'rent of'im. Why, 'e could 'ave settled you in a minute if he'd liked. He wason'y playing with you."

  Ginger stared at 'im as if 'e couldn't believe 'is eyes. "Playing?" heses, feeling 'is face very gently with the tips of his fingers.

  "Yes," ses the landlord; "and if he ever hits you agin you'll know I'mspeaking the truth."

  Ginger sat back all of a heap and tried to think. "Is Miss Tucker goingto keep company with 'im agin, then?" he ses, in a faint voice.

  "No," ses the landlord; "you can make your mind easy on that point."

  "Well, then, if I walk out with 'er I shall 'ave to fight Bill all overagin," ses Ginger.

  The landlord turned to 'im and patted 'im on the shoulder. "Don't youtake up your troubles afore they come, my lad," he ses, kindly; "and mindand keep wot I've told you dark, for all our sakes."

  He put 'im down at the door of 'is lodgings and, arter shaking 'ands with'im, gave the landlady a shilling and told 'er to get some beefsteak andput on 'is face, and went home. Ginger went straight off to bed, and theway he carried on when the landlady fried the steak afore bringing it upshowed 'ow upset he was.

  "The way he carried on when the landlady fried the steakshowed 'ow upset he was."]

  It was over a week afore he felt 'e could risk letting Miss Tucker see'im, and then at seven o'clock one evening he felt 'e couldn't wait anylonger, and arter spending an hour cleaning 'imself he started out forthe Jolly Pilots.

  He felt so 'appy at the idea o' seeing her agin that 'e forgot all aboutBill Lumm, and it gave 'im quite a shock when 'e saw 'im standing outsidethe Pilots. Bill took his 'ands out of 'is pockets when he saw 'im andcame toward 'im.

  "It's no good to-night, mate," he ses; and to Ginger's great surpriseshook 'ands with 'im.

  "No good?" ses Ginger, staring.

  "No," ses Bill; "he's in the little back-parlour, like a whelk in 'isshell; but we'll 'ave 'im sooner or later."

  "Him? Who?" ses Ginger, more puzzled than ever.

  "Who?" ses Bill; "why, Webson, the landlord. You don't mean to tell meyou ain't heard about it?"

  "Heard wot?" ses Ginger. "I haven't 'card any-thing. I've been indoorswith a bad cold all the week."

  "Webson and Julia Tucker was married at eleven o'clock yesterdaymorning," ses Bill Lumm, in a hoarse voice. "When I think of the wayI've been