186 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



without incurring a charge of meanness. For I had 

 arrived with him, and was considered his chum ; and, 

 moreover, had let out the fact that I knew something of 

 the noble art of self-defence. In those days I could 

 floor my man if occasion required it. 



But I was much concerned for poor Finnock. I had 

 seen enough of Jeamy to perceive that, bully or no bully, 

 he could make himself a very ugly customer to a novice, 

 and knew a trick or two in the gentle science. Finnock, 

 so far from being a fighting man, I thought to be almost 

 without spirit. He disliked the sight of fire-arms, and never 

 used them ; nor would he kill any creature, even for food, 

 but always passed that unpleasant necessity to somebody 

 else not the sort of man, one might well think, to prove 

 much of a fighter. But the unexpected often turns up ; 

 and quiet men are always dangerous when provoked. 



The next day was a Sunday, and all hands were 

 idlers. There was no respect paid to the day here, not 

 even by the Scots; and the ecstasy of those who ex- 

 pected to see a pleasant spectacle is indescribable. It is 

 no exaggeration to say that the rascals were one and 

 all beside themselves with delight at the prospect of 

 seeing a set-to ; but not one of them believed that the 

 boss would stand a shadow of a chance against Fighting 

 Jeamy. It is inexplicable; for Finnock was a decent 

 fellow, and no slave-driver, but not one of the men, 

 except the Chinese cook, seemed at all sorry that their 

 leader was about to be well whipped. I thought it my 

 duty to tell my man that I thought he had not any 

 chance against his antagonist ; for I did not like to see 

 him run the risk of being terribly mauled ; but he quietly 

 said, " Never fear, laddie. I've seen better men than him 

 knocked out. I'll be killed before I give in ; but if I'm 

 beaten I shall have to leave the camp." That was true 

 enough, without doubt ; for with such men a beaten boss 

 would have been a mere butt, and his daily life rendered 

 intolerable. 



