He was a hefty man, entirely reliable,
indeed almost happy in such an affair. As number two dock rat tried to
follow up his blow, Twinetoes swung number one round in his way; then,
changing his hold, taking both the man's shoulders in his hands, he
drew back his head as a snake does and butted his man clean over one of
the beds.... His face a pitiful pulp, number one was definitely out of
it.
Ordinarily, the Boss would have been much too much for me; but now fate
favoured me. He was considerably perturbed about the possible outcome
of the row and its effect on his business; I was intent only on the
fight. With a clean left-hand cut I drove him over, tore a quilt from a
bed and flung it over his dazed head, then swung round to where the
lead pipe was still flailing. I was concerned for Mick. Seizing the old
woman's shoulders I flung her back from Mick and the sail. He would
have cleared himself, but his legs were somehow mixed up with the foot
of the bed, and she occupied his attention too much. The hag raised the
lead and rushed, and for the only time in my life I hit a woman.
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