t had not been struck at him.

"Go it, Fatty, go it!" shouted the boys.

"Hush! not so much row," cried Burr. "Go on, Fatty. Now then."

"All right; wait--"

But Burr would not wait, for he gave his principal a heavy thrust,
sending him forward right on to Tom, who contented himself with
thrusting his antagonist back.

"Oh, I say, that ain't fair," cried Dicksee. "You wouldn't like it
yourself. You spoiled my plans."

"Go on, then, and finish him off; I want my turn." Then there was a
burst of eager incitements, and, unable to defer the attack any longer,
seeing, too, that Mercer did not mean to begin, Dicksee gave a final
dance, which included a dodge to right and left, and then he rushed in
at Mercer, who seemed just to shoot his left shoulder forward with his
arm extended, when there was a dull sound, and Dicksee seated himself
very suddenly on the floor.

"Hallo! slip?" cried Burr, helping him up,--rather a heavy job,--while a
look of perfect astonishment was in the fat face.

"Yes--boards--awkward," he babbled. "Ca-ca-can't we go on the grass?"

"No, no. Go in again."

"Eh?" said Dicksee, with his hand to his face.

"Well done, Tom!" I whispered; "that's it."

"It was right, wasn't it?" he said.

There was no time for more. Incited, almost driven by his second,
Dicksee came on again, aimed a blow or two wildly, and was sent down
again by Mercer almost without an effort.

And now the wind of favour began to change, so that in the next round
boys shouted encouragement to Mercer.

"Hold that row!" cried Burr savagely; "do you want the Doctor to hear?
Now, Dicksee, give it him this time."

I must do the fat fellow the credit of saying that he now came on
fiercely, swinging his arms wildly, and striking out with all his might,
but not one blow took effect, and I had the satisfaction of seeing the
triumph of Lomax's instructions, gaining confidence all the while, as
Tom delivered a blow here and a blow there, and then one which sent his
antagonist down to bump his head upon the boards.

There was quite a little burst of cheers now.

"Will you stop that row!" cried Burr fiercely. "Silence! You,
Dicksee," he whispered, as he helped his principal up, "if you don't go
in and lick him, I'll lick you."

"Tom," I was whispering, "you're sure to win."

"Am I?" he said stolidly; "but I don't like knocking him about--he can't
fight at all."

"Serve him right; he'll remember it in future. Now