rcorns into your hide."

From a chink in the door George recognized him as the very man he had
so unceremoniously knocked from his perch and so merrily battered in
the bout of singlestick that day on the landing-stage.

The fellow answered with a curse and lifted his axe to stave in the
door. Before the weapon could descend a report rang out in the
twilight, and with a scream the attacker sprang from the ground, and
then fell to rubbing his legs vigorously.

"One on 'em peppered," remarked old Saunders grimly.

The crowd outside fell back in haste, and a burly fellow at that
instant appearing on the scene with a small cask of ale on his
shoulder, a diversion was caused. The fight was transferred to the
circle round the ale barrel, the already half-crazy fellows struggling
desperately to get at the liquor.

"By Jupiter!" cried George, seeing his opportunity in a moment, "now
is our chance! Let them get fully occupied and we have them. Let them
once return and they will be madder and more reckless than ever."

And seizing every man his weapon, the little party in the shed
prepared to sally forth, old Saunders whispering to his next
neighbour, "The lad is a game 'un, if ever I saw one."

Just as George was preparing to draw the bolts he caught sight of
young Blackett. His old schoolfellow was haranguing the men,
gesticulating violently, and pointing excitedly towards the large
shed. Matthew had in reality just heard of the fray, and had at once
run up to do what he could to stop it. But George Fairburn did not
know this. "The knave!" he exclaimed, beside himself with anger, "he's
the very ringleader of the party! He's kept himself till now in the
background. But he shall pay for his pains!"

Flinging back the bars, George dashed forth upon the ale-drinking
group his little band following at his heels. With a shout they
swooped down upon the foe, and in an instant a score of heads were
broken, the luckless owners flung in all directions around the cask.
One of the prostrate ones held the spigot in his hand, and the
remainder of the liquor bubbled itself merrily to the ground.

So utterly unprepared were the fellows for the onset, and so mauled
were they in the very first rush, that a general alarm was raised. In
the darkening they imagined themselves surrounded by a strong
reinforcement of the Fairburn party, and at once there was a wild
stampede from the premises. Men and hobbledehoys stumbled off in hot
haste,