the major- 第6部分

Meantime　Mr。　Gwynne's　attention　was　diverted　from　his　delinquent　debtors　by　an　enterprise　which　to　an　unusual　degree　awakened　his　sympathy　and　kindled　his　imagination。　　The　Reverend　Heber　Harding；　ever　since　his　unfortunate　encounter　with　the　travelling　evangelist；　was　haunted　with　the　uneasy　feeling　that　he　and　his　church　were　not　completely　fulfilling　their　functions　in　the　community　and　justifying　their　existence。　　The　impression　had　been　the　more　painfully　deepened　in　him　by　the　sudden　eruption　of　a　spirit　of　recklessness　and　a　certain　tendency　to　general　lawlessness　in　some　of　the　young　men　of　the　village。　　As　a　result　of　a　conference　with　the　leading　men　of　his　congregation；　he　had　decided　to　organise　a　young　men's　club。　　The　business　of　setting　this　club　in　active　operation　was　handed　over　to　Mr。　Gwynne；　than　whom　no　one　in　the　village　was　better　fitted　for　the　work。　　The　project　appealed　to　Mr。　Gwynne's　imagination。　　A　room　was　secured　in　the　disused　Orange　Hall。　　Subscriptions　were　received　to　make　purchase　of　apparatus　and　equipment　necessary　for　games　of　various　sorts。　　With　vivid　remembrance　of　his　college　days；　Mr。　Gwynne　saw　to　it　that　as　part　of　the　equipment　a　place　should　be　found　for　a　number　of　sets　of　boxing　gloves。

There　were　those　who　were　not　too　sure　of　the　uplifting　influence　of　the　boxing　gloves。　　But　after　Mr。　Gwynne　had　given　an　exhibition　of　the　superior　advantages　of　science　over　brute　force　in　a　bout　with　Mack　Morrison　before　a　crowded　hall；　whatever　doubt　might　exist　as　to　the　ethical　value　of　the　boxing　gloves；　there　was　no　doubt　at　all　as　to　their　value　as　an　attractive　force　in　the　building　up　of　the　membership　of　the　Young　Men's　Club。　　The　boxing　class　became　immensely　popular；　and　being　conducted　under　Mr。　Gwynne's　most　rigid　supervision；　it　gradually　came　to　exert　a　most　salutary　influence　upon　its　members。　　They　learned；　for　one　thing；　to　take　hard　knocks　without　losing　their　tempers。

In　the　boxing　class　thus　established；　none　showed　a　greater　eagerness　to　learn　than　did　Larry。　　Every　moment　of　his　father's　spare　time　he　utilised　to　add　to　his　knowledge　of　the　various　feints　and　guards　and　cuts　and　punches　and　hooks　that　appeared　necessary　to　a　scientific　acquaintance　with　the　manly　art。　　He　developed　an　amazing　capacity　to　accept　punishment。　　Indeed；　he　appeared　almost　to　welcome　rough　handling；　especially　from　the　young　men　and　boys　bigger　than　himself。　　Light　in　weight　and　not　very　muscular；　he　was　wiry　and　quick　in　eye　and　in　action；　and　under　his　father's　teaching　he　learned　how　to　〃make　his　heels　save　his　head。〃　　He　was　always　ready　for　a　go　with　any　one　who　might　offer；　and　when　all　others　had　wearied　of　the　sport　Larry　would　put　in　an　extra　half　hour　with　the　punching　bag。　　With　one　boy　only　he　refused　to　spar。　　No　persuasion；　no　taunts；　no　challenge　could　entice　him　to　put　on　the　gloves　with　Mop　Cheatley。　　He　could　never　look　steadily　at　Mop　for　any　length　of　time　without　seeing　again　on　his　face　the　sneering　grin　and　hearing　again　the　terrible　words　spoken　two　years　ago　in　the　cedar　woods　behind　the　mill　pond：　〃You're　a　coward　and　your　mother's　a　coward　before　you。〃　　He　refused　to　spar　with　Mop　for　he　knew　that　once　face　to　face　with　him　he　could　not　spar；　he　must　fight。　　But　circumstances　made　the　contest　inevitable。　　In　the　working　out　of　a　tournament；　it　chanced　that　Mop　was　drawn　to　face　Larry；　and　although　the　disparity　both　in　age　and　weight　seemed　to　handicap　the　smaller　boy　to　an　excessive　degree；　Larry's　friends　who　were　arranging　the　schedule；　among　them　Mack　Morrison　with　big　Ben　Hopper　and　Joe　Gagneau　as　chorus；　and　who　knew　something　of　Larry's　skill　with　his　hands　and　speed　on　his　feet；　were　not　unwilling　to　allow　the　draw　to　stand。

The　days　preceding　the　tournament　were　days　of　misery　for　Larry。　The　decision　in　the　contest　would　of　course　be　on　points　and　he　knew　that　he　could　outpoint　without　much　difficulty　his　antagonist　who　was　clumsy　and　slow。　　For　the　decision　Larry　cared　nothing　at　all。　　At　the　most　he　had　little　to　lose　for　it　would　be　but　small　disgrace　to　be　beaten　by　a　boy　so　much　bigger。　　The　cause　of　his　distress　was　something　quite　other　than　this。　　He　knew　that　from　the　first　moment　of　the　bout　he　would　be　fighting。　　That　this　undoubtedly　would　make　Mop　fight　back；　and　he　was　haunted　by　the　fear　that　in　the　stress　of　battle　he　might　play　the　coward。　　Would　he　be　able　to　stand　up　to　Mop　when　the　fight　began　to　go　against　him？　　And　suppose　he　should　run　away；　should　show　himself　a　coward？　How　could　he　ever　live　after　that；　how　look　any　of　the　boys　in　the　face？　　Worst　of　all；　how　could　he　face　his　father；　whose　approval　in　this　boxing　game　since　he　had　revealed　himself　as　a　〃fighting　man〃　the　boy　coveted　more　than　anything　else。　　But　his　father　was　not　present　when　the　boy　stepped　into　the　ring。　　Impelled　by　the　dread　of　showing　himself　a　coward　and　running　away；　Larry　flung　to　the　winds　his　father's　favourite　maxim；　〃Let　your　heels　save　your　head；〃　a　maxim　which　ought　if　ever　to　be　observed　in　such　a　bout　as　this　in　which　he　was　so　out…classed　in　weight。

At　the　word　〃Time〃　Larry　leaped　for　his　opponent　and　almost　before　Mop　was　aware　that　the　battle　had　begun　he　was　being　blinded；　staggered　and　beaten　all　around　the　ring；　and　only　a　lucky　blow；　flung　wildly　into　space　and　landing　heavily　upon　Larry's　face；　saved　him　from　complete　defeat　in　the　first　round。　　That　single　heavy　blow　was　sufficient　to　give　temporary　pause　to　Larry's　impetuosity；　but　as　soon　as　he　got　back　his　wind　he　once　more　ran　in；　feinting；　ducking；　plunging；　but　ever　pressing　hard　upon　his　antagonist；　who；　having　recovered　from　his　first　surprise；　began　to　plant　heavy　blows　upon　Larry's　ribs；　until　at　the　end　of　the　round　the　boy　was　glad　enough　to　sink　back　into　his　corner　gasping　for　breath。

Ben　Hopper；　who　was　acting　as　Larry's　second；　was　filled　with　surprise　and　indignation　at　his　principal's　fighting　tactics。　〃You　blame　fool；〃　he　said　to　Larry　as　he　ministered　to　his　all　too　apparent　necessities。　　〃What　do　you　think　you're　doing？　　Do　you　think　he's　a　sausage　machine　and　you　a　bloody　porker？　　Keep　away　from　him。　　You　know　he's　too　heavy　for　you。　　If　he　were　not　so　clumsy　he　would　have　had　you　out　before　this。　　One　good　punch　from　him　would　do　it。　　Why　don't　you　do　your　foot　work？〃

〃Corec；〃　said　Joe。　　〃Larree；　you　fight　all　the　same　Mack　Morrison's　ram。　　Head　down；　jump　inhead　down；　jump　in。　　Why　you　run　so　queek　on　dat　Mop　feller？　　Why　you　not　make　him　run　after　you？〃

〃He's　right；　Larry；〃　said　Ben。　　〃Use　your　feet；　make　him　come　after　you。　　You　will　sure　get　his　wind。〃

But　Larry　stood　recovering　his　breath；　glowering　meanwhile　at　his　enemy　across　the　ring。　　He　neither　heeded　nor　heard　the　entreaties　of　his　friends。　　In　his　ears　one　phrase　only　rang　with　insistent　reiteration。　　〃He's　a　coward；　an'　his　mother's　a　coward　before　him。〃　　Only　one　obsession　possessed　him；　he　must　keep　hard　at　his　enemy。

〃Time！〃　　The　second　round　was　on。　　Like　a　tiger　upon　his　prey；　Larry　was　upon　his　foe；　driving　fast　and　furious　blows　upon　his　head　and　face。　　But　this　time　Mop　was　ready　for　him；　and　bearing　in；　head　down；　he　took　on　his　left　guard　the　driving　blows　with　no　apparent　injury；　and　sent　back　some　half　a　dozen　heavy　swings　that　broke　down　Larry's　guard；　drove　him　across　the　ring　and　finally　brought　him　gasping　to　his　knees。

〃Stay　where　you　are；〃　yelled　Ben。　　〃Take　your　count；　Larry；　and　keep　away　from　him。　　Do　you　hear　me？　　Keep　away；　always　away。〃

At　the　ninth　count　Larry　sprang　to　his　feet；　easily　eluded　Mop's　swinging　blow；　and　slipping　lightly　around　the　ring；　escaped　further　attack　until　he　had　picked　up　his　wind。

〃That's　the　game；〃　yelled　Ben。　　〃Keep　it　up；　old　boy；　keep　it　up。〃

〃C'est　bon　stuff；　Larree；〃　yelled　Joe；　dancing　wildly　in　Ben's　corner。　　〃C'est　bon　stuff；　Larree；　for　sure。〃

But　once　more　master　of　his　wind；　Larry　renewed　his　battering　assault　upon　Mop's　head；　inflicting　some　damage　indeed；　but　receiving　heavy　punishment　in　return。　　The　close　of　the　round　found　him　exhausted　and　bleeding。　　In　spite　of　the　adjurations　and　entreaties　of　his　friends；　Larry　pursued　the　same　tactics　in　the　third　round；　which　ended　even　more　disastrously　than　the　second。　His　condition　was　serious　enough　to　bring　Mack　Morrison　to　his　side。

〃What's　up　with　you；　Larry？〃　said　Mack。　　〃Where's　your　science　gone？　　Why　don't　you　play　the　game　as　you　know　it？〃

〃Mack；　Mack；〃　panted　Larry。　　〃It　ain't　a　game。　　I'mI'm　fighting；　and；　Mack；　I'm　not　afraid　of　him。〃

Mack　whistled。　　〃Who　said　you　are　afraid　of　him；　youngster？〃

〃He　did；　Mack；　he　called　me　a　cowardyou　remember；　Ben；　up　in　the　cedar　bush　that　day　we　played　hookeyyou　remember；　Ben？〃　　Ben　nodded。　　〃He　called　me　a　coward　and〃grinding　the　words　between　his　teeth〃he　called　my　mother　a　coward。　　But　I　am　not　afraid　of　him；　Mackhe　can't　make　me　afraid；　he　can't　make　me　run　away。〃　What　with　his　rage　and　his　secret　fear；　the　boy　had　quite　lost　control　of　himself。

〃So　that's　it；〃　said　Mack；　reading　both　rage　and　fear　in　his　eyes。　〃Listen　to　me；　Larry；〃　he　continued　in　a　voice　low　and　stern。　　〃You　quit　this　monkey　work　right　now　or；　by　the　jumping　Jehoshaphat；　I　will　lick　the　tar　out　of　you　myself　when　this　is　over。　　You're　not　afraid　of　him；　I　know　thatwe　all　know　that。　　But　you　don't　want　to　kill　him；　eh？　　No。　　What　you　want　is　to　make　him　look　like　a　fool。　　Well；　then；　fight；　if　you　want　to　fight；　but　remember　your　rules。　　Play　with　him；　make　him　follow　you　round　until　you　get　his　wind；　there's　your　chance。　　Then　get　him　hard　and　get　away。〃

But　the　boy　spoke　no　word　in　reply。　　He　was　staring　gloomily；　desperately；　before　him　into　space。

Mack　seized　him；　and　shaking　him　impatiently；　said；　〃Larry　boy；　listen　to　me。　　Don't　you　care　for　anybody　but　yourself？　　Don't　you　care　for　me　at　all？〃

At　that　Larry　appeared　to　wake　up　as　from　a　sleep。

〃What　did　you　say；　Mack？〃　he　answered。　　〃Of　course　I　care；　you　know　that；　Mack。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Mack；　〃for　God's　sake；　get　a　smile　on　your　face。　Smile；　confound　you；　smile。〃

The　boy　passed　his　gloved　hand　over　his　face；　looked　for　a　moment　into　Mack's　eyes；　and　the　old　smile　came　back　to　his　lips。

〃Now　you're　all　right；〃　cried　Mack　in　triumph。　　〃Remember　your　father'