ys to separate the belligerents. They had tried, but in vain, and
only got kicked for their pains. The girls, most of them, screamed and
cried. But not Lucy! White faced and with dilated eyes she watched
that struggle. All the spectators, even the youngest, seemed to
recognize it as a different kind of a fight from any that had ever
occurred before. At last the teacher sent some of the children for
help from the nearest farmhouse.

Dick would lower his head and lunge at Pan, trying to butt him in the
abdomen. Twice he had bowled Pan over, to his distinct advantage. But
the crafty Pan, timing another and last attack of this kind, swung up
his knee with terrific force, square into Dick's face.

Down Dick plumped, rolled over on his back, yelling loudly. Suddenly
he ceased, he raised up on one elbow, he spat blood, and something that
rattled on the gravel. A tooth! His grimy hand went trembling to his
blood-stained mouth. He felt of his front teeth. One was gone, others
were loose. Vanity, Dick's distinguishing characteristic, suffered a
terrible blow. Staggering to his feet, fetching a stone with him, he
glared at Pan: "I'll--kill--you!"

He flung the stone with deadly intent. But Pan dodged it and leaped at
him. Dick ran hard toward the schoolhouse, stooping to snatch up
stones, and turning to fling them at Pan. The yelling boys scattered,
the frightened girls fled. Pan was not to be outdone at any kind of
fight. He returned stone for stone, the last of which struck Dick low
down in the leg. Like a crippled beast Dick shrieked and plunged into
the schoolhouse, slamming shut the door. But Pan, rushing after,
grabbed up a rock and flung it so powerfully that it split the door and
knocked it off the hinges.

Pan rushed in to receive full in the face a long, thick teacher's ruler
thrown by Dick. It knocked him flat. Picking it up Pan brandished it
and charged his enemy. Dick ran along the blackboard, and jerking up
one eraser after another he threw them. His aim was poor. His
strength waning. His courage had gone. As for Pan it was as if the
long fight had only inspired him to renewed ferocity and might. The
truth was that a hot dancing fire in Pan's blood had burned to white
intensity, unquenchable and devastating.

Suddenly Dick made for the teacher's table. An idea, an inspiration
showed in his renewed speed. Pan divined its purpose. Leaping upon
the desks he endeavored to head Dick o