Aleko rushed through the Kolonaki Square and all the length of the
street called after the brave Kanaris,[6] into Academy Road, crossed
it, and tearing down two narrow streets one after the other, came
out into Stadium Street; this also he crossed, dodging in and out
between the tram-cars and the streams of people, and only slackened
his pace when he got into the short street that leads to the Church
of St. George and the building of the Parnassos.
He pushed open the big door, and dumping down his shoeblack's box in
the outer hall beside a long line of others, was in the class room
and seated in his place, just one moment before the master took his.
Two members were present this evening. One of them heard the boys'
grammar and arithmetic lessons, and commented on them; the other,
a young man with a small dark moustache, leaned against the wall
and looked on without speaking. Just before the books were closed
he crossed the big room and exchanged a few words with the master,
who smiled, nodded his head, and gave up his place on the platform
to him. The whole class looked up with astonishment; members never
took the master's place except to make speeches on the twenty-fifth
of March, or on examination day. This member was very tall, his back
was very straight, and his eyes were always laughing.
He leaned carelessly across the desk.
"Listen to me, boys!" he said. "Some people have been blaming me
for teaching you boxing. They say you are ready enough to fight
without being taught any more about it. So I want to explain, here,
why I think it such a good thing for you. Now--until all men become
saints, and I believe that we, at least, shall not see that day--a
boy will always need to defend himself, or his people, or his things,
by fighting, sometimes. Well, boxing makes a fine healthy animal of
him, ready to face anything that may happen."
Some of the older boys scowled at the word "animal," and the young
member saw it.
"I am sorry you do not like being called 'animals,'" he continued,
"because in reality, you are far worse off than animals when it comes
to fighting, and that is why you must learn how to use your strength,
so as not to be at the mercy of any who choose to attack you. Why,
many insects, even, are stronger than you are!"
The boys laughed out loudly.
"An ant," continued the young member gravely, "can bear nearly a
thousand times the weight of its own body over it, without being
crushed. How many times your own weight do you think you could
carry? But science can supply what nature has denied to us. We can
make our fists be to us just what its horns are to a bull, or its
claws and its teeth to a lion; only, you see, we have to learn how
to do this carefully, and systematically. When a horse kicks, or a
dog bites, no one in the world can teach them to do it better, but
most men have no idea how to hit straight from the shoulder with all
the strength of the body behind the blow. A boy who has learned how
to defend himself will be a thousand times less molested by others,
and more independent. When grown men, in a fit of passion, pull out
a knife to avenge an injury, it is, nine times out of ten, because
they have not learned the use of their fists."
Then the young member, suddenly leaving the platform, came down
amongst them.
"Who will learn?" he asked smiling.
Not a boy but came pressing around him. Benches were pushed against
the walls, and the lesson began.
He made the boys who were to fight take off their tunics and roll
up the sleeves of their more or less ragged shirts. He placed them
in the correct attitude of defense, the right fist closed and held
near the body and the left slightly extended. He showed them how to
thrust straight from the shoulder for the right-hand stroke, and
for the left-hand stroke; then how to parry the right-hand stroke
with the left arm raised and slightly bent, and how to parry the
left-hand stroke with the right arm bent forward and protecting the
face. He showed them how to take their opponent's head prisoner,
and he showed the imprisoned one how to get free.
"Now, Kosta!" he cried, "straight out from the shoulder! Follow your
blow! Come with it! Come with it! Be ready, Aleko! Raise your left
arm. There you see.... That is the way!"
When the lesson was over and the boys had shouldered their boxes,
Aleko lingered until the two members came out down the steps into
the street smoking their cigarettes. He stood himself right in the
way of the younger member.
"Tell me, Kyrie, if you please, when you strike straight out from
the shoulder and the other one does not know how to parry the blow,
what happens?"
The member laughed.
"Why, he will see stars, my boy, especially if your blow lands on
his chin."
"Ah!" said Aleko. "Yoryi who squints shall not take my client from
me again!"
"Does Yoryi 'who squints' come to school?" asked the member.
"Not he!"
"Then I certainly think your client will remain yours."
"Good night, Kyrie."
"Good night to you, my lad."
Then as Aleko ran off, the younger member turned to the older one.
"I wish a few more of the boys had his spirit."
"How fair he is! From what part does he come, I wonder?"
"Oh, they all come from Megaloupolis, but I believe that this one's
father is originally from Macedonia."
"Ah, a good race," said the older man. "One of our best."