"Maybe you want ter lick him," suggested Mike.
"I kin if I set out fer ter do it."
"Then pitch in, Pat."
But Pat hesitated about going ahead. Robert looked strong, and he felt that the youth could not be easily intimidated.
"We kin do it tergether," he ventured.
While the two roughs were conversing Hammerditch and Le Fevre drew near.
They had seen the short encounter and saw how angry were the men who wanted to be treated.
"Got the best of you, did he?" said Hammerditch.
"You mind your own business," growled Mike, crossly.
"Why didn't you pitch into him?" went on the Englishman. "I would have done so."