uit this place as soon as you leave me well enough to do
so, and will never visit it again. What! do you hesitate to promise? Are
you really afraid I shall lick you?"

"You! I'd smash a dozen of you to powder."

"In that case, you are safe to promise. Come, 'tis a fair bargain. Is
n't it, neighbours?"

Won over by Kenelm's easy show of good temper, and by the sense of
justice, the bystanders joined in a common exclamation of assent.

"Come, Tom," said an old fellow, "the gentleman can't speak fairer; and
we shall all think you be afeard if you hold back."

Tom's face worked: but at last he growled, "Well, I promise; that is, if
he beats me."

"All right," said Kenelm. "You hear, neighbours; and Tom Bowles could
not show that handsome face of his among you if he broke his word. Shake
hands on it."

Fighting Tom sulkily shook hands.

"Well now, that's what I call English," said Kenelm, "all pluck and no
malice. Fall back, friends, and leave a clear space for us."

The men all receded; and as Kenelm took his ground, there was a supple
ease in his posture which at once brought out into clearer evidence the
nervous strength of his build, and, contrasted with Tom's bulk of chest,
made the latter look clumsy and topheavy.

The two men faced each other a minute, the eyes of both vigilant and
steadfast. Tom's blood began to fire up as he gazed; nor, with all his
outward calm; was Kenelm insensible of that proud beat of the heart
which is aroused by the fierce joy of combat. Tom struck out first and
a blow was parried, but not returned; another and another blow,--still
parried, still unreturned. Kenelm, acting evidently on the defensive,
took all the advantages for that strategy which he derived from superior
length of arm and lighter agility of frame. Perhaps he wished to
ascertain the extent of his adversary's skill, or to try the endurance
of his wind, before he ventured on the hazards of attack. Tom, galled to
the quick that blows which might have felled an ox were thus warded
off from their mark, and dimly aware that he was encountering some
mysterious skill which turned his brute strength into waste force and
might overmaster him in the long run, came to a rapid conclusion that
the sooner he brought that brute strength to bear the better it would be
for him. Accordingly, after three rounds, in which without once breaking
the guard of his antagonist he had received a few playful taps on
the nose and mouth, he dre