jor. "More cheeky than ever. What shall I
do, boys? give 'em stick or let 'em stand up and take it?"

"A fight, a fight!" rose in chorus.

"All right. I'll dress the groom boy, and Dicksee shall give the other
chap his dose."

A curious sensation of trouble and bewilderment came over me, as I gave
a quick glance round at the bare loft, with its cob-webbed windows and
eager little crowd of boys, all expectant and flushed with desire for
the scene.

"Ah, look out! he's going to bolt," shouted Hodson.

"I wasn't," I cried indignantly.

"He'd better," said Burr major, coolly taking off his jacket and
beginning to fold it up and lay it on the bin. "Now then, major-general
of cavalry, off with your duds. I won't keep you long. Just time
before dinner."

"But I say," cried Dicksee, "we ain't going to fight both together?"

"No," said Burr major; "you shall dress Jollop down first, and I'll
second you."

"No; you do yours first."

"Do as I tell you," cried Burr sharply, "and don't waste time. I shall
have to wash after thrashing that dirty groom."

I gave him an angry glance in return for his insult, and then turned to
Tom Mercer, who was standing with his brow all wrinkled up, slowly
taking off his jacket, which he threw over a beam, and turning up his
shirt sleeves above his sharp elbows.

"I'm going to get such a licking," he whispered.

"No, no; do win!" I whispered back.

"Can't. He's so soft you can't hurt him. He's just like a big football
that you mustn't kick."

"His head isn't soft," I whispered; "hit that."

"Now then, ready!" cried Burr, and we faced round, to find Dicksee with
his sleeves rolled up, and Burr patting him on the shoulder and giving
him instructions.

"Now, then, young Mercer, come up to the scratch," cried Burr. "Stand
back, you boys, and make a better ring."

Then a shuffling of feet, a few suppressed sounds of excitement, and the
boys who were to look out turned from the windows.

"Remember old Lom," I said, feeling very nervous and doubtful as I
whispered to my principal. Then the boys were opposite to each other,
Dicksee throwing his head about, dancing from leg to leg, and feinting a
rush in, while Mercer stood well balanced on his legs, his brow
wrinkled, and his fists up in the attitude we had been taught.

"Now, Dicksy, give it up. Go in at him. Look sharp!"

"All right; wait a moment," cried the boy, dancing and dodging about as
if to avoid blows tha