ks, regardless of all the blows aimed at them by their opponents,
and drove it back again into the middle of the ground. Then on they
flew to drive it back still farther. Both parties met in the centre.
There was a fierce tussle. The hockey-sticks kept striking each other,
but none struck the ball. Blackall had gone farther back to catch the
ball, should it be driven past the front rank of his party. Ernest had
retired behind his friends for the same purpose. His eye, however,
never left the ball. He saw a stick uplifted which he thought would
strike it. So it did, and the ball came flying towards him. His quick
eye saw it coming, and with unerring aim he struck it over the heads of
both parties, who, not knowing what had become of it, broke asunder, and
enabled him to pass between them. He reached the neighbourhood of the
ball at the same moment that Blackall, having seen it coming, got close
up to it. They eyed the ball, and they eyed each other for some
moments; their eyes flashed fire.

"Out of my way, you rebellious young scamp!" shouted Blackall, irritated
by what he considered Ernest's daring coolness. Ernest did not even
look at him, but threw himself into a position to strike the ball. His
eye was at the same time on Blackall's stick. He saw him lift it to
strike, not the ball, but him. He had not learned the use of the
single-stick for nothing, and throwing himself back, he warded off the
blow, and then, quick as lightning, struck the ball, and sent it past
his cowardly opponent. Blackall, not in the least ashamed of himself,
attempted to repeat the blow while Ernest was unable to defend himself;
but before his stick descended another actor had come into the field.
It was Ellis, who had been close at hand, and now springing forward, he
interposed his own stick, and saved his friend from the effects of the
blow, drawing, of course, all Blackall's rage upon himself. Had any
body seen his countenance, they could not have failed to observe the
smile of satisfaction which lighted it up as Blackall showered heaps of
virulent abuse on his head.

"Go on, I don't fear you; remember that," said Ellis quietly; and then
hurried on, in the hopes of assisting Ernest to drive the ball on to the
goal. The keen eye of Monsieur Malin, who was the master on duty on
that afternoon, had observed this little piece of by-play. He noted it,
but said nothing at the time. It required all Ernest's activity and the
e