hile the other
punished him.

"I wouldn't have believed it. I wouldn't have believed it," he kept on
muttering as he caught sight of Distin's pallid face again and again,
while avoiding the dodges and attempts to close on the part of the
gipsies.

At last, feeling that this could not go on, and weakened by his efforts,
Vane determined to try, and, by a sudden rush, contrive to render one of
his adversaries _hors de combat_, when, to his great delight, they both
drew off, either for a few minutes' rest, or to concoct some fresh mode
of attack.

Whatever it might be, the respite was welcome to Vane, who took
advantage of it to throw off his Norfolk jacket; but watching his
adversaries the while, lest they should make a rush while he was
comparatively helpless.

But they did not, and tossing the jacket aside he rapidly rolled up his
sleeves, and tightened the band of his trousers, feeling refreshed and
strengthened by every breath he drew.

"Now," he said to himself as the gipsies whispered together, "let them
come on."

But they did not attack, one of them standing ready to make a rush,
while the other went to the edge of the wood to reconnoitre.

"It means fighting to the last then," thought Vane, and a shiver ran
through him as he recalled his last encounter.

Perhaps it was this, and the inequality of the match which made him turn
to where Distin still stood motionless.

"I say, Dis," he cried, appealingly, "I won't believe all they said.
We'll be friends, when it's all over, but don't leave me in the lurch
like this."

Distin looked at him wildly, but still neither spoke nor stirred, and
Vane did not realise that he was asking his fellow-pupil that which he
was not likely to give. For the latter was thinking,--

"Even if he will not believe it, others will," and he stared wildly at
Vane's bruised and bleeding face with a curious feeling of envy at his
prowess.

"Right," shouted the gipsy lad who had been on the look-out, and running
smartly forward, he dashed at Vane, followed by his brother, and the
fight recommenced.

"If they would only come on fairly, I wouldn't care," thought Vane, as
he did his best to combat the guerilla-like warfare his enemies kept up,
for he did not realise that wearisome as all their feinting, dodging and
dropping to avoid blows, and their clever relief of each other might be,
a bold and vigorous closing with them would have been fatal. And, oddly
enough, though they h