It's been coming to him for a long time, I guess." There is a saying to the effect that "rats desert a sinking ship"; and when Nick's hour for defeat arrived, even these hitherto admiring cronies threatened to turn their backs on him.
Aroused by this taunt, he scrambled to his feet.

Nick was a sight indeed with his face bloody, and one of his eyes giving evidence of going into mourning.

He snarled something at Leon with a degree of his one-time ferocity, and the other turned back to assist him off the field.

Nick stopped to look back.

He made no threat, but the malevolence in that stare toward Hugh told better than words would have done what bitterness was in his heart.