<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN>
<h1 class="nobreak">A LAD OF METTLE</h1>
<p class="center p4" style="line-height:1.5"><span class="smallfont">BY</span><br/>
<span class="largefont">NAT GOULD</span></p>
<SPAN name="CHAPTER_I"></SPAN>
<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I. <br/><span class="cheaderfont">BULLY RAKES TAKEN DOWN.</span></h2>
<p>Lessons were over for the day, and the boys at
Redbank School came running with shouts and
whoops of joy into the playing-fields. They were
like young colts freed from restraint for a few hours,
and eager to make the most of their liberty.</p>
<p>Redbank was the home of brilliant cricketers and
all-round athletes. Many a noted cricketer had
received his first lessons in the great game on Redbank
cricket ground. The lads were proud of the
men who played in the All England eleven, and who
were never slow to acknowledge that to Redbank
they owed what prowess they possessed.</p>
<p>The Redbank lads were born runners, so many an
old hand training them for races vowed. Something
in the atmosphere of Redbank seemed to make the
lads athletic. Perhaps the traditions attached to the<span class="pagenum">[10]</span>
school had much to do with this, for lads are very
proud, and justly so, of the feats of scholars who have
preceded them.</p>
<p>But Redbank was not merely a training ground for
famous athletes. Redbank scholars had taken high
honours at the Universities, and afterwards distinguished
themselves in various walks of life. The
Bishop of Flaxham was proud of the fact that he was
‘grounded’ at Redbank. He was an eloquent and
distinguished man, an ornament to the Church, and
a brilliant writer of readable books.</p>
<p>When the Bishop of Flaxham came to Redbank,
and preached in the chapel, the lads with difficulty
restrained themselves from giving him a hearty cheer
at the end of his address. The Bishop knew how to
talk to boys, and never forgot that at one period of
his life he had been bored with wearisome sermons
about the world, the flesh, and the devil, which he
did not in the least understand. So he took warning,
and told the lads to run the race set before them
much in the same manner as they would a hundred
yards sprint, each striving to win the prize and do
the distance in even time. The Bishop believed that
well-trained muscles and a healthy body were conducive
to an active and moral state of mind. The
Redbank lads gloried in the fact that the Bishop of
Flaxham had been one of themselves.</p>
<p>Field-Marshal Lord Kingcraft was a Redbank boy,
and his warlike deeds and bravery were celebrated
in song on the fly-leaves of school-books, and occasionally<span class="pagenum">[11]</span>
on the panels of doors and the insides of
desks.</p>
<div class="poetry-container">
<div class="poetry">
<div class="stanza">
<div class="indentquote0">‘Lord Kingcraft’s won the great V.C.,</div>
<div class="indent0">May Redbank do the same for me.’</div>
</div></div>
</div>
<p>was discovered carved, evidently with much labour
and pains, on the lid of a desk at which the celebrated
Field-Marshal formerly worried his brains over Euclid
and algebra.</p>
<p>This inscription was pointed out to the brave leader
of men when he visited his old school, and he never
forgot it. He hoped, from the bottom of his heart,
the lad who carved it would one day win his V.C.</p>
<p>Redbank was represented in the navy and in the
diplomatic world, and one day it was hoped a Redbank
lad would become Prime Minister.</p>
<p>So, with all these successful public men constantly
before them as an example, the lads of Redbank felt
bound to endeavour to do great deeds, and win
renown for themselves and their school.</p>
<p>The head-master of Redbank was the Rev. Henry
Hook, and it was universally acknowledged that no
more suitable man could have been selected. He
ruled his lads with a firm hand, but he was no tyrant
or hard task-master. The boys knew he meant what
he said, and that his word to them could be implicitly
relied upon. He had confidence in his boys, and they
returned it.</p>
<p>When Edgar Foster came to Redbank School he
was sixteen, small for his age, but muscular and<span class="pagenum">[12]</span>
active. At this time there were between two and
three hundred scholars at Redbank, and naturally out
of such a number there were several lads whose
absence would not have been regretted.</p>
<p>Young Edgar Foster soon became popular. For
one thing, his father was a well-known man, who had
worthily upheld the honour of Redbank in the cricket
field, and had captained the All England eleven.
This was quite sufficient to give Edgar a standing in
the school.</p>
<p>Bullies exist in almost every walk of life, and a few
of this undesirable species were to be found at Redbank.
The leader of these bullies was a lad named
Raymond Rakes—‘Bully Rakes’ as he was generally
called. He was a big, hulking fellow, powerful and
strong, but deficient in courage, as bullies generally
are.</p>
<p>There was nothing manly about Bully Rakes, and
the boys knew it. So far he had held his own,
for he was the biggest boy in the school. Any new
scholar he at once endeavoured to inspire with awe,
and generally succeeded.</p>
<p>Our story commences about a week after Edgar
Foster’s arrival at Redbank. The boys were bounding
out of school and soon spread over the fields in groups;
the bulk of them, however, went towards the cricketing
nets.</p>
<p>Edgar Foster had not had any opportunity of
showing what he could do with the bat. He was a
lad who did not push himself forward, but quietly<span class="pagenum">[13]</span>
bided his time, knowing full well that when that time
came he would not be found wanting. The boy is
father to the man, and it will be gathered from this
story of a lad of mettle that Edgar Foster acted in
this wise during many trying periods of his after-life.</p>
<p>Edgar watched the practice with keen and critical
eyes. His father had taught him how to handle a bat
as only a skilful player can.</p>
<p>‘Here, Foster, take a turn,’ said the lad who had
just finished batting. ‘We’ve not had the chance of
seeing how you shape yet.’</p>
<p>‘I’m ready,’ said Edgar, pulling off his coat and
eagerly holding out a hand for the bat.</p>
<p>‘It’s my turn,’ said Bully Rakes. ‘Just you drop
that bat, or I’ll make you.’</p>
<p>Edgar Foster looked up at the big fellow standing
before him, but he did not flinch, nor did he drop the
bat.</p>
<p>The boys crowded round, anticipating a row, and
anxious to see how the new-comer would shape with
Rakes.</p>
<p>‘If it is your turn,’ said Edgar quietly, ‘I will give
you the bat. If it is not your turn, under no circumstances
will I drop the bat.’</p>
<p>The tones were firm, there was no flinching, and
the lad looked determined.</p>
<p>Bully Rakes was not accustomed to be addressed
in this manner. He eyed Edgar scornfully, and
said:</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[14]</span></p>
<p>‘I shall have to teach you manners. I am the
best judge of whose turn it is. Will you drop that
bat?’</p>
<p>Edgar turned to the lad who had handed him the
bat, and said:</p>
<p>‘Do you bat in turns? Has Rakes any right to
bat before me?’</p>
<p>Courage is infectious. Will Brown had never
defied Rakes before, but he felt he must back up his
plucky schoolmate.</p>
<p>‘Rakes has no right to bat here at all,’ he replied.
‘He’s been batting at the other net, and has just
finished his turn.’</p>
<p>Edgar Foster made no further remark, but walked
coolly to the wicket.</p>
<p>This defiance of his demands gave Bully Rakes a
shock. He knew if he allowed Foster to bat his
hold over the boys would be gone. He strode up to
Edgar and said savagely:</p>
<p>‘Give me the bat, or I’ll thrash you!’</p>
<p>‘Had you asked me politely at first, I should
probably have handed you the bat,’ said Edgar. ‘I
shall not do so now. As for thrashing me—well,
that has to be decided.’</p>
<p>‘Bravo, Foster!’ shouted several lads.</p>
<p>‘Punch his head, Rakes,’ said one of the bully’s
toadies.</p>
<p>‘Give me that bat, or fight me!’ shouted Rakes in
a passion.</p>
<p>‘Shame!’ shouted the lads.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[15]</span></p>
<p>Rakes was much taller and more powerfully built
than Edgar.</p>
<p>Edgar Foster handed the bat to Will Brown, and
said:</p>
<p>‘Come on, I’m ready.’</p>
<p>Bully Rakes had his coat off, and the boys, seeing
a fight about to take place, formed a ring. They
would have given much to see Bully Rakes get a
severe thrashing.</p>
<p>Now they were in a fighting attitude the disparity
between the lads was more apparent. Edgar was
lightly built, but active, and evidently in good condition.
Bully Rakes was massive, heavy, and ponderous
in his movements. The boys were determined to see
fair play, and gave Edgar every encouragement. As
usual, when he had to fight, Bully Rakes rushed in at
close quarters, and tried to overwhelm his smaller
opponent by the force of his onslaught.</p>
<p>Edgar, however, was ready for him. He knew how
to box better than most lads of his age. His father
had taught him, impressing upon him that because
he knew how to use his fists he ought not to pick
quarrels.</p>
<p>Seeing Bully Rakes rush at him, Edgar sprang
nimbly to one side. The bigger lad stumbled forward
and almost fell. Thus foiled at the first
attempt, Rakes lost his temper. He heard the lads
jeering at him, and he determined he would make
Edgar suffer for the humiliation.</p>
<p>Recovering himself, Rakes glared at Edgar and<span class="pagenum">[16]</span>
then aimed a terrific blow at his ribs. Quick as
lightning shot out Edgar’s left and caught Rakes on
the ear. It was a stinging blow, and the bully did
not take punishment well. Rakes again rushed at
Edgar, and, closing with him, kicked him severely on
the shin. It was a despicable act, and several lads
pulled Rakes back, others shouting ‘Coward!’ and
‘Foul play!’</p>
<p>‘Hands off!’ shouted Rakes. ‘You’d better not
interfere with me.’</p>
<p>‘Leave him to Foster,’ said Will Brown; ‘he’ll
settle him.’</p>
<p>A roar of laughter followed this remark, and made
Bully Rakes furious.</p>
<p>‘Stand up and fight fair,’ said Edgar. ‘Who
taught you to kick? We’re not playing football.’</p>
<p>The boys were delighted. Here was young Foster
taking it out of Bully Rakes, and chaffing him unmercifully.</p>
<p>Rakes again commenced the attack, but with more
caution. He was not a match for his young opponent
when it came to science. He managed to land
a blow on Edgar’s right eye, but the return he
received fairly between his own eyes staggered him.
Edgar followed up his advantage and soon had the
satisfaction of seeing Bully Rakes measure his length
on the grass.</p>
<p>The younger boys danced with delight as the
defeat of their enemy looked assured.</p>
<p>Rakes, however, was not yet beaten. He staggered<span class="pagenum">[17]</span>
to his feet and fought again with some determination.
Feeling he had met his match, his courage,
what little he possessed, gave way, and Edgar soon
had the bully at his mercy. Edgar was not disposed
to let him off lightly, and he knocked Rakes about
in a manner that both astonished and alarmed
him.</p>
<p>‘Have you had enough?’ said Edgar, standing
over him after another knock-down blow. ‘If not,
get up, and I’ll repeat the dose.’</p>
<p>‘I’ve done for to-day,’ growled Rakes; ‘but I’ll
be even with you for this, see if I don’t.’</p>
<p>‘Take your defeat like a man,’ said Edgar, ‘and
drop bullying in the future. Where’s the bat?’ he
added, turning to Will Brown.</p>
<p>But the boys would not let him bat. They cheered
him and shook hands with him, and Edgar felt he
had quickly made a position for himself in the
school.</p>
<p>Bully Rakes slunk away with one or two companions,
who had been tempted by his example to
bully on a smaller scale, and were downcast at his
defeat.</p>
<p>‘You’ll get into a row,’ said Will Brown to Edgar.
‘The chief can’t bear fighting, but when he hears the
truth, I fancy he’ll side with you.’</p>
<p>‘He’ll hear the truth then,’ said Edgar. ‘I shall
ask to see him when we reach school.’</p>
<p>‘I shouldn’t,’ said Will Brown. ‘None of the
masters may have noticed it.’</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[18]</span></p>
<p>‘It makes no difference to me whether they have
noticed it or otherwise,’ said Edgar; ‘I shall tell the
doctor all about it, if he will see me. It is the most
straightforward way, as I have only been about a
week in the school.’</p>
<p>‘Perhaps you’re right,’ said Will Brown.</p>
<p>‘Sure of it,’ said Edgar.</p>
<p>That evening Dr. Hook received a polite note
from Edgar Foster, in which he asked for an interview.
Dr. Hook knew Edgar’s father, and admired
him for his many manly qualities.</p>
<p>‘You wanted to see me, Foster,’ said Dr. Hook,
when the lad came into his study.</p>
<p>Then, catching sight of Edgar’s discoloured eye,
he frowned.</p>
<p>Edgar explained what had occurred in the cricket-field.
Dr. Hook listened attentively, noting the
boy’s face all the time. His scrutiny was evidently
favourable.</p>
<p>‘I am glad you came to me,’ said the head-master;
‘I strongly object to fighting, but in this instance I
think it may be overlooked. Send Rakes to me
when you go out.’</p>
<p>‘Please, sir,’ said Edgar, and hesitated. ‘I hope
you will not punish Rakes; I gave it him severely
this afternoon.’</p>
<p>Dr. Hook smiled as he said:</p>
<p>‘No, I will not punish Rakes; I merely wish to
speak to him about his conduct. You may go.’</p>
<p>‘That lad will get on in the world,’ thought Dr.<span class="pagenum">[19]</span>
Hook, when the door closed behind Edgar. ‘I’m
glad he thrashed Rakes; it will do him good.’</p>
<p>Bully Rakes got a very different reception to
Edgar Foster, and as he left the room he vowed he
would have his revenge upon Edgar for ‘sneaking’
to the head-master.</p>
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