There were geese
feathers about, but they did not form its contents, for it was stuffed
with keen, stiff thorns such as can grow to perfection upon a Kentish
common; and if Brian Green had been an indiarubber ball he could not
have rebounded more suddenly than he did.

Raising the now empty nest he threw it with all his might at Dominic,
and both his fists after it.

The nest missed; the fists took effect, alighting as they did upon
Dominic's breast and shoulder, and completely driving all thought of
consequences out of the boy, who retaliated with such good effect that,
as the lookers-on cheered and shouted encouragement, the fight raged
fiercely. Even Tomlins forgot his sufferings, and watched every
fluctuation of the struggle with an intense longing to see the school
tyrant effectually mastered and dragged down from the pedestal whence he
had so long dominated and ill-used all around.

The others shared his feelings, and a couple immediately constituted
themselves seconds during the few minutes the fight went on fast and
furious, Dominic always being ready to dash into the affray after being
dragged up at the close of the wrestling bout which ended each round,
while Green grew more and more deliberate, as buzzing sounds came into
his head, ringings into his ears, and it began to dawn upon him that Nic
Braydon had the hardest face he ever touched, and that it was of no use
to keep on hitting it, for it always returned to be hit again.

At last, to the intense delight of the boys, it became evident that the
result of the encounter must be a sound thrashing for Brian Green, and
Nic's second kept on whispering to him to do this and do that to bring
it to an end.

Then came a most exciting finish, in which Nic was following up blow
with blow, and Green, backing slowly away, guarding himself
ineffectually, and growing confused and helpless, was wondering whether
Nic had had enough, when the fight came to a sudden termination, and
fists dropped down to sides, for the sonorous voice of the doctor arose
from close at hand with:

"Young gentlemen, what is the meaning of this disgraceful scene?"

CHAPTER TWO.

AFTER THE FIGHT.

Three boys began to explain at once; but the doctor, who was walking
with his wife and two daughters, and had been attracted by the struggle
going on, held up his hand.

"That will do! that will do!" he said in his most dignified manner and
with his deepest-toned voice. "I have seen