orm yet, he was
excused from serving, and reported himself to the colonel, as he had
been ordered. When the parade was finished, the principal delivered a
homily on fighting, stating the facts connected with the combat of that
day, and commenting upon them. He condemned fighting in round terms,
declaring it was never necessary, except in self-defence. The civil and
the social law would protect every member of the community, and there
could be no need of resorting to the barbarous custom of settling
differences by single combat. He applied the principles he laid down
to the case before him so clearly, that Richard lost much of his
admiration of the "noble art of self-defence"--as pugilists stupidly
style the act of fighting, to ascertain who is the better man.

Lest our boy friends should not fully understand us, we must add, that
the colonel's views are ours. A boy ought to fight in self-defence;
never to find out which is "the better man." He should use no more
violence than is necessary to defend himself. A boy is bound to protect
his weak friend--not from words, but from blows--to the best of his
ability, by using blows, when they are necessary. We can excuse, but we
cannot justify, the boy who strikes another for insulting his mother or
his sister. We believe in a "kiss for a blow," but we also believe that
cannon are often the best peacemakers. "Blessed are the peacemakers,"
but he who permits himself to be unjustly scourged is more truly a
fomenter of strife than he who conquers a peace in a good cause by the
might of his strong arm.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Colonel Brockridge ordered Richard to
be conducted to the guard house, where he was to spend the night. Mr.
Gault was directed to see the order executed, and the culprit was
marched to the apartment which served as a place of confinement for
offenders. He submitted to the punishment with the best grace he could
command, but he was mortified and humiliated.

The guard house was a bugbear to the boys of the Institute. It was a
small room, with the mockery of iron bars at the window, placed there
more for effect than for any thing else. It contained a bed and a
stool, with no other furniture. But it was regarded as a terrible place
by the boys; not that it was a very great hardship to spend a night
there, but because of the disgrace which the popular sentiment of the
establishment had attached to the prison.

Richard entered, and the door was locked