“Yes; and what then?” cried Jerry, breathlessly.
“Then? Oh, he turned upon me and let me have it, while I took no notice, feeling as I did that I ought to have known better; and the quieter I was the more he went on giving it me, and threatening and getting more and more savage, till he roused me at last.”
“How? What did he say?”
“Well, there is one thing that makes me wild, and he did it. I stood there holding the bombardon, letting him go on, till all at once he told me that I was no more good in my company and I had come sneaking to the band to try and get taken on there, but that I was of no use at all, and he’d soon put a stop to my practising with the men; and that I was—”
Brumpton stopped, and wiped his face again.
“Well, let’s have it!” cried Jerry, excitedly.
“He said that I was a fat, idiotic porpoise; and that did it.”
“Did what?” cried Jerry.
“I’d got that big bombardon upside down in my hands, and, before I knew it, I’d brought it down on his bald head, just as if it was an extinguisher.”
“And put him out!” said Jerry.