Chapter Seven.
Trial by Jury.
Fisher minor’s hopes rose high within him as he stalked his debtor across the School Green. Three times already he had encountered him, but fate had stepped in to prevent the collection of his dues. Now—
He had arrived at this stage when a voice at his side sent a cold shiver down his back.
“Hullo, kid, got you at last, then? That’s what you call waiting where I left you, do you?”
“I didn’t promise to wait,” said Fisher. “You told me to.”
“It’s the same thing. Now you’ll come along with me, my beauty.”
Had Fisher minor been anything but a raw hand, it might have occurred to him that it would take Percy Wheatfield all his time to convey a boy his, Fisher’s, size against his will into Forder’s house. But such is the force of innocence on one side, and authority on the other, that the new boy laid down his arms, and followed his captor meekly into the enemy’s citadel. Just as they were entering, a posse of the enemy appeared on the scene, consisting, among other supporters of the Modern cause, of Ramshaw, Cottle, Lickford, and Cash.
“Here’s a game, Rammy,” cried Percy. “Got him at last! This is the villain, this is the murdering, highway forger. Come on, you kid; you’re in for it.”