y. To this pass a determination to be
calm, whatever else they were, had brought them.

The varying wriggles (no more dignified word is appropriate) of the
encounter ended in a stern stiff grip which locked the men one to the
other, Duplay facing down the valley, Harry looking up the river. Harry
could not see over the Major's shoulder, but he saw past it, and sighted
a tall dog-cart driven quickly and rather rashly down the hill. It was
raining hard now, and had not looked like rain when the dog-cart
started. Hats were being ruined--there was some excuse for risking
broken knees to the horse and broken necks to the riders. In the middle
of his struggle Harry smiled: he put out his strength too; and he did
not warn his enemy of what he saw; yet he knew very well who was in the
dog-cart. Duplay's anger had stirred him to seek a primitive though
effective revenge. Harry was hoping to inflict a more subtle punishment.
He needed only a bit of luck to help him to it; he knew how to use the
chance when it came--just as well as he knew who was in the dog-cart, as
well as he guessed whence the dog-cart came.

The luck did not fail. Duplay's right foot slipped. In the effort to
recover himself he darted out his left over the edge of the bank. Harry
impelled him; the Major loosed his hold and set to work to save
himself--none too soon: both his legs were over, his feet touched water,
he lay spread-eagled on the bank, half on, half off, in a ludicrous
attitude; still he slipped and could not get a hold on the short slimy
grass. At that moment the dog-cart was pulled up just behind them.

"What are you doing?" cried Janie Iver, leaning forward in amazement;
Mina Zabriska sat beside her with wide-open eyes. Harry stooped, caught
the Major under the shoulders, and with a great effort hauled him up on
the bank, a sad sight, draggled and dirty. Then, as Duplay slowly rose,
he turned with a start, as though he noticed the new-comers for the
first time. He laughed as he raised his cap.

"We didn't know we were to have spectators," said he. "And you nearly
came in for a tragedy! He was all but gone. Weren't you, Major?"

"What were you doing?" cried Janie again. Mina was silent and still,
scrutinizing both men keenly.

"Why, we had been talking about wrestling, and the Major offered to show
me a trick which he bet a shilling would floor me. Only the ground was
too slippery; wasn't it, Major? And the trick didn't exactly come off. I