o was I, for there was a buzzing in my temples and a hot feeling in my
throat as I once more stood up before my adversary, who was still
smiling contemptuously as he began sparring and then dashed forward, but
stopped suddenly, and stood back, shaking his head, while I tightened my
hand and saw the blood start from one of my knuckles.

"Go on, Burr. Give it him. He's nearly done. Go on, go on!" was
chorused on all sides; and, looking very vicious now, Burr came at me
with his fists wide apart, and then he rushed at me as if he meant
mischief, but to his great surprise as much as to mine, he seemed to run
his nose right on to my left fist, and dropped down on the floor.

He was up again, though, directly, amid a buzz of excitement, and I felt
that now he was going to avenge himself thoroughly, but, as I struck out
with my left exactly as Lomax had instructed me, somehow Burr major went
down again.

It almost puzzled me. I could hardly believe it, but it was forced upon
me, and the blows which I seemed to deliver at the right time in the
most effortless of ways, had a terrible effect, my antagonist going down
three times to my once.

And now some of the tide began to set in my direction--the tide of
popularity. First of all, little Wilson took heart and gave me a cheer,
then he began to grow excited, and to cry in an eager whisper,--

"Well done, Burr junior! Hooray! That's it. Give it him. Hooray!
down again."

Burr major got up, looking fierce as well as confused, and sat panting
on his second's knee; and as I sat on mine, Tom Mercer gave me a hug.

"Splendid!" he whispered. "Hooray for old Lom! You'll beat him if you
keep quiet. You boys, hold that row."

There was a hush directly, and we two faced each other once more.

The confident contempt for me had gone now, and there was no laughing
looking round at the boys for their approval, but, pale, excited, and
with marks beginning to show in an ugly way, Burr major seemed to be
prepared to do his best to crush me by a fierce attack.

For my part, I had been so much hurt that it was as if the shrinking was
all knocked out of me, and I was no less eager to begin than he. But we
stood facing each other now, with the hum of excitement that greeted our
coming forward hushed once more to silence.

I could feel that I might now commence the attack, but my master's
lessons all came clear and vivid before me, and knowing that, as the
weaker, it was my dut