"I didn't think Nokes was the sort of fellow to stand that." "No more he ain't," said Boscobel.
"Heathcote's a good plucked un all the same," said Joe.
"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.