“You're a wonder, my friend,” said one.
“By Jove, he's hardly breathing fast after all that rushing,” said a second.
“So you didn't think one punch like that would hurt him,” quoted another with good-natured sarcasm.
“No,” said Orde, simply. “I've hit men that hard before with my bare fist.”
“Did they survive?”
“Surely.”
“What kind of armour-plates were they, in heaven's name?”
Orde had recovered his balance and humour.
“Just plain ordinary rivermen,” said he with a laugh.
“Gentlemen,” struck in Gerald, “I want to introduce you to my friend.” He performed the introductions. It was necessary for him to explain apart that Orde was in reality his friend, an amateur, a chance visitor in the city. All in all, the affair made quite a little stir, and went far to give Orde a standing with these sport-loving youths.