"It's like you to speak up for such a fellow is that," said Jerry.

"I say he's a good plucked un. I'm not standing up for him. Nokes is
half a stone heavier than him, and ought to have knocked him over.
That's what you'd've done, wouldn't you, Bos? I know I would."

"He'd 've had my axe at his head," said Boscobel.

"We all know Joe's game to the backbone," said Jerry.

"I'm game enough for you, anyway," said the brother. "And you can try
it out any time you like."

"That's right; fight like dogs, do," said the old man.

The quarrel at this point was interrupted by the arrival of another
man, who crept up round the corner on to the veranda exactly as
Boscobel had done. This was Nokes, of whom they had that moment been
speaking. There was silence for a few moments among them, as though
they feared that he might have heard them, and Nokes stood hanging
his head as though half ashamed of himself. Then they gave him the
same kind of greeting as the other men had received. Nobody told him
that he was welcome, but the spirit jar was again brought into use,
Jerry measuring out the liquor, and it was understood that Nokes was
to stay there and get his food. He too gave some account of himself,
which was supposed to suffice, but which they all knew to be false.
It was Sunday, and they were off work at the sugar-mill. He had come
across Gangoil run, intending to take back with him things of his own
which he had left as Bender's hut, and having come so far, had
thought that he would come on and get his dinner at Boolabong. As