“He’d finish me off,” said Ralph grimly, and Mark was silent.
“I say,” he said at last; “I shan’t say we fought.”
“Why?” asked Ralph, in surprise.
“Because it’s like bragging so, to talk of two fights. I shall say the robbers attacked us, and we beat them off; then they’ll get the credit of our wounds.”
“But it will not be true.”
“I shan’t say they wounded us,” replied Mark. “If my father likes to think they did it, I shall let him.”
“I shan’t,” said Ralph quietly. “I shall tell my father everything.”
“Well, I suppose it will be best,” said Mark. “But, I say, that fight doesn’t count, you know. We must begin again where we can’t be interrupted.”
“When your leg’s better.”
“Yes, and your arm’s all right.”