ad sought to do this at first, during the latter
part of the encounter they had kept aloof, though perhaps it was no
wonder, for Vane had given some telling blows, such as they did not wish
to suffer again.

"I shall have to finish it, somehow," thought Vane, as he felt that he
was growing weaker; and throwing all the vigour and skill into his next
efforts, he paid no heed whatever to the blows given him by one of the
lads, but pressed the other heavily, following him up, and at last, when
he felt nearly done, aiming a tremendous left-handed blow at his cheek.

As if to avoid the blow, the lad dropped on his hands and knees, but
this time he was a little too late; the blow took effect, and his
falling was accelerated so that he rolled over and over, while unable to
stop himself, Vane's body followed his fist and he, too, fell with a
heavy thud, full on his adversary's chest.

Vane was conscious of both his knees coming heavily upon the lad, and he
only saved his face from coming in contact with the ground by throwing
up his head.

Then, he sprang up, as, for the first time during the encounter, Distin
uttered a warning cry.

It warned Vane, who avoided the second lad's onslaught, and gave him a
smart crack on the chest and another on the nose.

This gave him time to glance at his fallen enemy, who did not try to get
up.

It was only a momentary glance, and then he was fighting desperately,
for the second boy seemed to be maddened by the fate of the first.
Casting off all feinting now, he dashed furiously at Vane, giving and
receiving blows till the lads closed in a fierce wrestling match, in
which Vane's superior strength told, and in another moment or two, he
would have thrown his adversary, had not the lad lying unconscious on
the dead leaves, lent his brother unexpected aid. For he was right in
Vane's way, so that he tripped over him, fell heavily with the second
gipsy lad upon his chest, holding him down with his knees and one hand
in his collar, while he raised the other, and was about to strike him
heavily in the face, when there was a dull sound and he fell over upon
his brother, leaving Vane free.

"Thankye, Dis," he panted, as he struggled to his knees; "that crack of
yours was just in time," and the rector's two pupils looked each other
in the face.

It was only for a moment, though, and then Vane seated himself to
recover breath on the uppermost of his fallen foes.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

HA