mud, was proudly stuck on, hind part before. He was of
course thirsting for battle, but not quite so much master of his
strength as usual; so his two friends, who were luckily strong
and big men, seized him, one to each arm.

"Come along, keep together," was the word; "there's no time to
lose. Push for the corn-market."

The cry of "Town! town!" now rose on all sides. The gownsmen in a
compact body, with Donovan in the middle, pushed rapidly across
the open space in which the caravans were set up and gained the
street. Here they were comparatively safe; they were followed
close, but could not be surrounded by the mob. And now again a
bystander might have amused himself by noting the men's
characters. Three or four pushed rapidly on, and were out of
sight ahead in no time. The greater part, without showing any
actual signs off fear, kept steadily on, at a good pace. Close
behind these, Donovan struggled violently with his two
conductors, and shouted defiance to the town; while a small and
silent rear guard, amongst whom were Tom and Drysdale, walked
slowly and, to all appearance, carelessly behind, within a few
yards of the crowd of shouting boys who headed the advancing
town. Tom himself felt his heart beating quick, and I don't think
had any particular desire for the fighting to begin, with such
long odds on the town side; but he was resolved to be in it as
soon as any one if there was to be any. Thus they marched through
one or two streets without anything more serious than an
occasional stone passing their ears. Another turn would have
brought them into the open parts of the town, within hearing of
the colleges, when suddenly Donovan broke loose from his
supporters, and rushing with a shout on the advanced guard of the
town, drove them back in confusion for some yards. The only thing
to do was to back him up; so the rear-guard, shouting "Gown!
gown!" charged after him. The effect of the onset was like that
of Blount at Flodden, when he saw Marmion's banner go down,--a
wide space was cleared for a moment, the town driven back on the
pavements, and up the middle of the street, and the rescued
Donovan caught, set on his legs, and dragged away again some
paces towards college. But the charging body was too few in
number to improve the first success, or even to insure its own
retreat. "Darkly closed the war around." The town lapped on them
from the pavements, and poured on them down the middle of the
street, before t