He revolved, too, with considerable agility, round his opponent, and gradually drew the battle nearer and nearer to the side lane outside.

He knew enough of slum-chivalry by now to be aware that if a sympathizer, or sycophant, of the young man happened to be present, he himself would quite possibly (if the friend happened to possess sufficient courage) suddenly collapse from a disabling blow on the back of the neck.

Also, he was not sure whether there was any wife in the question; and in this case it would be a poker, or a broken bottle, held dagger-wise, that he would have to meet.

And he wished therefore to have more room round him than the _cul-de-sac_ afforded.
But there was no need for precaution.
The young man had begun to look rather sickly under the eyes and to hiccup three or four times in distressed manner; when suddenly the clamor round the fight ceased.

Frank was aware of a shrill old voice calling out something behind him; and the next instant, simultaneously with the dropping of his adversary's hands, he himself was seized from behind by the arms, and, writhing, discerned is blue sleeve and a gloved hand holding him.
"Now, what's all this ?" said a voice in his ear.
There was a chorus of explanation, declaring that "'Alb" had been set upon without provocation.