His dark eyes glowed, and he showed his white teeth as he struck at me
again and again; but I avoided the blows as I wrestled with him, and at
last my sturdy strength, helped by the work I had had in Old
Brownsmith's garden, told, and I got hold of the cane, forced open his
hand, and wrested it away.
I remember very well the triumphant feeling that came over me as I
raised the cane and was in the act of bringing it down with all my
might, when there was a strong hand from behind upon my shoulder, and
another caught my arm, ran down it to the wrist and hand, wrested the
cane away, and swung me round.
It was Mr Solomon, looking very red in the face, and frowning at me
severely.
"What are you doing?" he cried. "Do you know who that is?"
"He struck me with the cane."
"He was stealing peaches."
"I was not; I was picking one up."
"He was stealing them. Just look what he has done."
"I did not do it, Mr Solomon," I cried. "It was he."
"Oh, what a cracker, Brownie! I came and caught him at it; and because
I said he was a thief he hit at me with that cane."
"How did he get the cane? Why, it's yours," said Mr Solomon; "and I
believe you broke that young peach."
"Get out! It was he. Take him to the police. I caught him at it."
Mr Solomon stooped and picked up the bruised and fallen peaches, laid
them on a shelf, and then took out his knife and cut away the broken
bough neatly.
Then he stood and looked at it for a moment, and the sight of the damage
roused up a feeling of anger in him, for he turned sharply.
"Here, you be off!" he said, advancing on the boy with the cane under
his arm.
For answer the boy snatched the cane away. "What do you say?" he cried
haughtily.
"I say you be off out of my glass-houses, Master Philip. I won't have
you here, and so I tell you."
"How dare you talk to me like that?" cried the boy.
"Dare! I'll dare a deal more than that, young fellow, if you are not
off," cried Mr Solomon, who was a great deal more excited and animated
than I should have imagined possible. "I'm not going to have my fruit
spoiled like this."
"Your fruit indeed! I like that," cried the boy. "Yours?"
"See what you've done to my Royal George!"
"See what I've done to your Royal George!"--mockingly.
"Now be off," cried Mr Solomon. "Serves me right for not keeping the
houses locked up. Now, then, you be off out."