Dick gasped. This was a newer and altogether pleasanter version of the episode, anyhow!
"But that's not what the School thinks, kid. Foxenby's opinion is that, for swank, I selected a nice, fat, juicy victim, and used him as a punching-ball. Have you heard a different story?"
"No, Forge. But one of the—that is, somebody said they'd seen it was Juddy Stockgill you walloped, and I know what a big brute he is, 'cos my uncle had a farm next to the one where Juddy works. And he must have been doing something rotten, or you wouldn't have struck him, Forge."
Here was a golden opportunity to put things right, and Dick, after slightly hesitating, took it.
"Juddy and his choice associates were knocking Fluffy Jim about rather badly," he said. "I chipped in because of that, kid, and not for personal glory. You believe me, I suppose?"
"Up to the hilt, Forge! You're a 'white man'. Sign my book, please, so's I can 'hop' it back to 'prep'."
With a cheerier laugh than he had uttered for weeks, Dick did himself the unsought honour of placing his signature beneath that of the world's light-weight boxing champion, and Robin cleared off contentedly.
"Never say die, after all," Dick told himself, more hopefully. "With Robin Hood and his Merry Men behind me, and Roger burning to get back to my side, I think I can discern a tiny rift in the clouds at last!"