To release
himself he bent forward, pushing the woman away; the result was a
violent blow from her fist, after which she raised a shriek as if of
pain and terror. Instantly a man sprang forward to her defence, and
he, too, planted his fist between the eyes of the hapless peer.
Gammon saw at once that they were involved in a serious row, the
very thing he had been trying to avoid. He would not desert his
friend, and was too plucky to see him ill-used with out reprisals.
The rough's blows were answered with no less vigour by the man of
commerce.
"Hook it!" shouted Gammon to the tottering Polperro. "Get out of
it!"
The clock was still striking; the crowd kept up its brutal blare,
aided by shrill instruments of noise. Only a few people heard
Polperro's shout defying the enemy.
"Let him come on! Let him come on like a man! Take that, you
ruffian, and that!"
Gammon, knowing the conflict grossly unequal, did not scruple to
fight his own way. Polperro, wildly thrashing about him with both
fists, excited wrath in every direction.
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