"He got up a row at Bollins this afternoon, and half killed a poor lad--Bill Turner by name--threw him down and half stunned him."
"Half stunned him," repeated Ferdy, "that's not quite the same as half killing him. Have you sent him to the hospital?"
"Well no, sir," said the constable, "he come to again--them boys has nine lives more than cats. I don't suppose he's really much the worse. But these Draymoor fights must be put a stop to, they're getting worse and worse; I've had orders to that effect," drawing himself up.
"And has Jesse Piggot been mixed up with them lately?" said Ferdy severely.
"Well no, sir," he repeated, "but what does that matter, if he's been the offender to-day."
"But what do you want _me_ to do?" asked Ferdy.
"To detain the lad if he comes here and give him up to the lawful authorities," said Brownrigg more fluently. "Everybody knows you've been very kind to him, but it's no true kindness to screen him from the punishment he deserves."
"Did he begin the fight then?" he said. "There's such a thing as--as defending oneself, quite rightly. Supposing the other boy started it?"
"That will be all gone into in the proper time and place," said Brownrigg pompously. "An example must be made, and--"
Before he had time to finish his sentence Ferdy interrupted him joyfully. He had just caught sight of the pony-carriage driving in rapidly. For some garbled account of what had happened had been given to Mr. Ross by the group of men and boys still hanging about the gates, and he hurried in, afraid of finding his boy startled and upset.
Nor did the sight of the stout constable reassure him. On the contrary it made Mr. Ross very indignant. He scarcely noticed Brownrigg's half-apologetic greeting.
"What's all this?" he said sharply. "Who gave you leave to come up here and disturb an invalid?"
Brownrigg grew very red, and murmured something about his "dooty."
[Illustration: "STEP DOWNSTAIRS, IF YOU PLEASE, AND THEN I'LL HEAR WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO SAY."]
"You've exceeded it in this case, I think you'll find," the master of the house replied severely. "Step downstairs if you please, and then I'll hear what you've got to say," and to Ferdy's inexpressible relief, for the consciousness of Jesse's near presence was beginning to make him terribly nervous.