“Yes, I dare,” cried Aleck, “and I will if you’ll say that it’s as brave as fighting you.”
“I don’t know whether it’s as brave,” said the middy, “but I’d sooner fight than try the other. Ugh! I wouldn’t try that again for anything.”
“Very well, then, I will,” said Aleck, stoutly. “You must own now that it’s a braver thing to do than to begin trying to knock you about. There, put down your hands, I’m not going to fight.”
“You’re beaten then.”
“Not a bit of it. I’m going to show you that I’m not a coward.”
“No, you’re not,” said the middy, after a few minutes’ pause, during which Aleck ran to the rock and brought back the now dry rope in its loose coil.
To his surprise the middy took a step forward and caught hold of it tightly to try and jerk it away.
“What are you going to do?” said Aleck, in wonder.
“Put it back,” said the middy.
“Why?”