without more ado George flung himself at the bully, and toppled him
over, the side of his head coming into violent collision with the
rough planks of the landing-stage.

"Up with you, Jack!" George cried, and, seizing the hand of the
prostrate sailor, he jerked him to his feet. Jack, however, was of
little more use when he had been helped up, and staggered about in a
dazed and aimless sort of way. He was, in truth, almost blind, his
eyes scarce visible at all, so severe had been his punishment, while
his face streamed with blood.

Meanwhile his antagonist had jumped to his feet, his face black with
coaldust and distorted with fury.

"Two on ye!" he yelled with an oath, "then I must fend for myself,"
and he seized a broken broom handle that was lying near.

"A game of singlestick is it?" George replied gleefully, as he made a
successful grab at another stick a couple of yards away. It was the
handle of a shovel; there were several broken tools lying about the
quay.

"Come on," said the boy, brandishing his short but heavy weapon, "this
is quite in my line, I can tell you!"

It was a curious sight as the two rushed upon each other, so unequal
did the antagonists seem. Bill, the collier, was tall as well as
strongly built, and in the very prime of life; while George, though a
sturdy lad for his age, was many inches shorter, and appeared at first
sight an absurdly inadequate foeman.