"I'm out-voted in the conference."
Then he got down and we got down also.
Cherry Ripe seemed rather pleased at what we had decided to do, because
I don't think he wanted to have another talk with the Doctor any more
than we did. But he certainly had arranged rather a big job for us.
"You've got to pick it clean, mind you--roots and all," he said. Then
he divided the bit of land into three with sticks, and it seemed to us
that we had to weed about as much as a cricket pitch each.
"You shall have the biggest job, young master," he said to Trelawny.
"And that's only right and fair, because you're such a big man and take
such big views."
Trelawny did not answer, but he was evidently in a very proud frame of
mind. He seemed determined to show Cherry Ripe something, if it was
only how to weed.
We worked jolly hard, and Cherry Ripe kept us at it. Then in the
distance went up three cheers, and we knew the match was over; and, from
the sound of the cheers, it looked as if we'd won, because after a match
we always cheer the enemy, and we always cheer him heartier if we've
beat him--not intentionally, but still the sound is different.
"Now you can all nip back," said Cherry Ripe. "Better go the way you
came--through the wood."
"And be killed by your bull, I suppose," said Pedlar. "Not likely!"
"We have accepted your terms," said Trelawny, "and if you are an
honourable foe, you'll let us out by the gate."
"Better go through the wood," answered Cherry Ripe. "It's a lot
shorter, and as to the old bull, you needn't mind him. He's my
daughter's pet. He wouldn't hurt a daddy-long-legs, much less a nice
young chap like you. Tame isn't the word for him. A pet lamb's fierce
to him. Come on. I'll go as far as the wood with you if you're
frightened."
All this was true. And when we got back into the field, Cherry Ripe
scratched the bull's curly head and the bull almost purred. It was the
mildest and humblest sort of a bull you ever saw, though so huge; and to
see such an enormous and happy bull so close was rather interesting in
its way. In fact, we all gave it a pat, just to be able to say in after
life that we had patted a monstrous bull.
"My youngest daughter often sits on his back," said Cherry Ripe. "This
here bull has got a heart of gold, I do assure you."
"Another strategy," said Trelawny to me. "Certainly the man's cunning is
frightful. I think I shall tell him about the seed--just to show him
we've scored a bit too."
I advised not, but Trelawny was so stung by the way we'd been defeated
all round by the wretched Cherry Ripe, that, as we were leaving him, he
said--
"It may interest you to know that we've sowed that patch of your beastly
ground under the wall with weeds of the deadliest sort. In fact, you'll
never get them out again. So that's one for us, anyway."
"Well done!" said Cherry Ripe. "Where did you get the seed from?"
"That's our business," answered Trelawny. "Anyway, you'll find it out
presently."
"Well," answered Cherry Ripe, "I know where you got the seed. It was
from my good friend, Batson. And his boy be coming here to work next
week. He's learned all your gardener at the school can teach him, and
that wouldn't sink a ship. He brought the tale to his father, and his
father brought it to me; and so I got the ground ready for you, knowing
what a dashing fellow you are, and what a hurry you'd be in."
"More fool you then," said Trelawny.
"Not so fast. The seed you sowed was lettuce seed! Good-evening, my
dears, and when you say your prayers afore you go to sleep to-night, you
can all thank the Lord that you've done a bit of honest, useful work for
once in your lives!"
* * * * *