e blow with his walking-stick right
across Nikolai's face, so that the stick snapped.

"Help! help! Police!"

Nikolai had struck his fist into Veyergang's chest so that the buttons
of his coat were torn open, when he was surrounded by three policemen.

A young girl suddenly rushed wildly in among them.

Spectators collected in greater numbers around.

This was a fair-fight of the first sort; and that tall, dark girl too!

"A mad bull-dog of a smith! Put him under arrest!" exclaimed Veyergang
furiously, when he felt himself in safety. "You may meditate there in
the meantime. You are not at all indispensable, my friend!" he went on
in a coolly teasing tone. "The black-eyed lassie shall enjoy herself at
the fair all the same."

The words were hardly spoken before Nikolai had wrenched himself free.
He swung the bundle, with the box in it, about him so that nobody could
come near him, and darted like a flash of lightning upon Veyergang,
exclaiming between his teeth: "It's the last time in your life that
you'll say that!"

One hand fumbled with Veyergang's coat, and the other dealt him a blow
with the full weight of the box, so that he fell backwards on to the
snow.

He did not get up again--did not stir.

There were cries and a tumult among the spectators. Some cried "Murder,"
others for a doctor. And all the while the music clashed and jingled in
three directions.

A high police functionary attempted to quiet the excitement, and
discreet hands bore the unconscious man out to a sledge, and drove him
to the hospital. All the excited wrath of the crowd was turned against
the perpetrator of the deed, who was led out strongly guarded.

For safety's sake, out in the gate, irons were put on both his hands and
his feet, and this was done in the midst of an ever-increasing crowd
from the street.

But when there was a mention of taking him into the sledge, the girl
threw herself upon him, and clung so tightly that it was impossible to
tear her away. She still cried and clung to him, much to the delight and
amusement of the assembled crowd of boys, after they had got him into
the sledge.

It was impossible for them to start, although they dragged and pulled at
her till the gathers of her dress gave way.

The boys shouted.

"Pull--tear--drag the clothes off my back!"

"There, have a little common-sense, lass!" said one of the constables.

"You mustn't take him! You sha'n't take him!"

She wrenched and pulled at