frightful scuffle ensued.

Tom Robson put himself in position like an English boxer, drunk as he
was, and squared his arms and elbows for the fray.

At first he made a few feints at Martin, which were not meant to be
serious. But when he had received a few blows which were really painful,
he sprang away from the table so as to get more room. Torpander had not
the least idea of using his fists, but hammered away like a blacksmith
with his long skinny arms, either at Tom or else in the air, just as it
might happen. Mr. Robson gave him a tap every now and then which made
his bones rattle again, but on the whole he allowed the Swede to hammer
away at his back as much as he liked.

Woodlouse looked on for some time with the greatest satisfaction, until
the idea struck him that he would clear the room. He accomplished his
object with the greatest perseverance, and what with butting with his
head and pushing his heavy body between the combatants, he at length
managed to get the whole lot turned out of doors. Begmand threw their
hats after them, and shut the door.

The fresh wind had a cooling effect on them all, and on Woodlouse's
suggestion a truce was concluded. In order to ratify this, it was
arranged that they should go to Tom Robson's house, and have another
dram and a bit of English cheese.

They then clambered up the steep path at the back of Begmand's house,
Tom Robson leading, and as he was helping himself with his hands up the
steepest places, he chanced to get hold of a loose stone, which, in pure
drunken wantonness, he threw at Marianne's window, where he happened to
see a light. The stone struck with such force, just where the bars of
the window-frame crossed, that all the four panes were smashed, and the
glass came clattering down.

"That was Tom Robson!" yelled Martin, who was the last. "Let me get up
to him! Out of the way! Only let me get my hands on him!" and he worked
his way past the others, and got up to Tom, just as he had reached the
top of the slope where the flat meadow began.

Martin went at him with such violence that the other had not time to put
himself in position. Blow after blow rained down on him, until he fell
to the ground half stupefied. Martin threw himself upon him, put his
knees on his breast, and struck him in the face, and then continued
hitting and kicking at random until he could do so no longer.

The others now came up, but did not get between the combatants. Martin
was no