第19章

`Ay, but,' said Tom, whose mind was prone to see an opposition between statements that were really quite accordant, `but there was a big flood once when the Round Pool was made.I know there was, 'cause father says so.And the sheep and cows were all drowned, and the boats went all over the fields ever such a way.'

I don't care about a flood comin',' said Bob, `I don't mind the water, no more nor the land.I'd swim - I would.'

`Ah, but if you got nothing to eat for ever so long?' said Tom, his imagination becoming quite active under the stimulus of that dread.`When I'm a man, I shall make a boat with a wooden house on the top of it, like Noah's ark, and keep plenty to eat in it - rabbits and things - all ready.

And then if the flood came, you know, Bob, I shouldn't mind...And I'd take you in, if I saw you swimming,' he added, in the tone of a benelovent patron.

`I aren't frighted,' said Bob, to whom hunger did not appear so appalling.

`But I'd get in, an' knock the rabbits on th' head when you wanted to eat 'em.'

`Ah, and I should have half-pence, and we'd play at heads and tails,'

said Tom, not contemplating the possibility that this recreation might have fewer charms for his mature age.`I'd divide fair to begin with, and then we'd see who'd win.'

`I'n got a half-penny o' my own,' said Bob, proudly, coming out of the water and tossing his half-penny in the air.`Yeads or tails?'

`Tails,' said Tom, instantly fired with the desire to win.

`It's yeads,' said Bob, hastily, snatching up the half-penny as it fell.

`It wasn't,' said Tom, loudly and peremptorily.`You give me the half-penny - I've won it fair.'

`I shan't,' said Bob, holding it tight in his pocket.

`Then I'll make you - see if I don't,' said Tom.

`You can't make me do nothing, you can't,' said Bob.

`Yes, I can.'

`No, you can't.'

`I'm master.'

` I don't care for you.'

`But I'll make you care, you cheat,' said Tom, collaring Bob and shaking him.

`You get out wi' you,' said Bob, giving Tom a kick.

Tom's blood was thoroughly up: he went at Bob with a lunge and threw him down, but Bob seized hold and kept it like a cat, and pulled Tom down after him.They struggled fiercely on the ground for a moment or two, till Tom, pinning Bob down by the shoulders, thought he had the mastery.

` You say you'll give me the half-penny now,' he said, with difficulty, while he exerted himself to keep the command of Bob's arms.

But at this moment, Yap, who had been running on before, returned barking to the scene of action, and saw a favourable opportunity for biting Bob's bare leg not only with impunity but with honour.The pain from Yap's teeth, instead of surprising Bob into a relaxation of his hold, gave it a fiercer tenacity, and with a new exertion of his force he pushed Tom backward and got uppermost.But now Yap, who could get no sufficient purchase before, set his teeth in a new place, so that Bob, harassed in this way, let go his hold of Tom and almost throttling Yap, flung him into the river.By this time Tom was up again, and before Bob had quite recovered his balance after the act of swinging Yap, Tom fell upon him, threw him down and got his knee firmly on Bob's chest.

`You give me the half-penny now,' said Tom.

`Take it,' said Bob, sulkily.

`No, I shan't take it - you give it me.'

Bob took the half-penny out of his pocket and threw it away from him on the ground.

Tom loosed his hold and left Bob to rise.