The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900 ... - Gredos

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
Simon made no reply but leisurely descended on to the ice, skimming past Humphrey in
another moment.
"Let's chase him," cried one of the others coming up, and the two remaining visitors
gleefully supported the
[27]
proposal. They were Rugby boys, and were unfettered by any traditions of Simon's
prowess in the cricket-field.
"Well, it is a confounded shame," remarked Humphrey. “He’s trespassing, you know,
and I’ve warned him; so he deserves a lesson.”
In the presence of his three mates he felt as brave as a lion. Meanwhile, Simon was
unconcernedly pursuing his course round the pond, cutting figures of eight, and
performing other feats on the outside edge which would have much impressed any
ordinary juvenile onlookers.
But the four in question, filled with zeal for the honour of the Charnocks in particular
and the maintenance of law and order in general, charged up to him with severe and
portentous countenances and surrounded him. Simon stopped abruptly; then, with
unexpected decision, seized the two foremost youths by their respective collars,
knocked their heads together, and flung them to a convenient distance, where they
remained for some moments clawing at the ice in the vain attempt to regain the
perpendicular. With a sudden flank movement he next obtained possession of
Humphrey, and clutching him firmly by the neck he turned to deal with his fourth
opponent, a brave little fellow, who came sparring up to him with a valour worthy of a
better cause. Simon burst out laughing as he imprisoned the two bony little warlike arms
in one strong hand.
"You're a brave fellow," he said. "Now, look here, what do you want to fight me for?"
"Because you're trespassing," returned the boy, struggling in Simon's iron grip.
"I'm not then," cried Simon bluntly. “This pond belongs as much to my father as to
Squire Charnock. I've always come here when I wanted to, and I always will. I don't
want to hurt you, but you mustn't interfere