upon the bed before him.

"Now then, shove 'em on," cried Sam, as he thrust his own hands into the
gloves he held. "Look sharp, or I'll knock you off the bed."

"No, no," cried Tom; "don't be so absurd. How can I when I'm
undressed?"

"Put on your trousers then. D'yer hear? Be quick now, or you'll have
it."

"You'll have uncle hear you directly if you don't be quiet."

"You'll have him hear you go off that bed lump if you don't jump out and
get ready. Now then, are you going to begin?"

"No," said Tom sturdily. "I'm going to sleep."

He snuggled down in his place and drew the clothes up to his ear, but
they did not stay there, for Sam began his attack, bounding forward and
bringing the padded gloves _thud_, _thud_, down upon his cousin's head,
as if bent upon driving it down into the pillow.

Tom sat up again quickly with his teeth set, and his eyes flashing.

"Will you be quiet?" he cried in a low, half-suffocated voice.

"Will you put on those gloves?" cried Sam.

"No; I'm not going to make such a fool of myself at this time of night,"
said Tom.

"Lie down then," cried Sam, and hitting out again cleverly he knocked
his cousin back on to the pillow, following it up with other blows, each
having the same result, for Tom struggled up again and again.

"Now, will you get up?" cried Sam.

"No," said Tom hoarsely; and down he went once more.

"You'd better jump up and do as I tell you, or it will be the worse for
you."

"You'd better leave me alone before you get my temper up."

"Temper, bumpkin? Yes, you'd better show your teeth. Take that, and
that, and that."

Tom did take them--heavy blows delivered with the soft gloves, but all
falling hard enough to inflict a good deal of pain, and make the boy
draw his breath hard.

"That's your sort," continued Sam, who danced about by the side of the
bed, skilfully delivering his blows upon his defenceless cousin, and
revelling in the pleasure he found in inflicting pain. "That'll knock
some sense into your thick head, and so will that, and that, and that,
and--Oh!"

Sam had gone too far, for after trying all he could to avoid the blows,
Tom suddenly gathered himself together and shot out of bed full at his
cousin's breast, sending him down heavily in a sitting position first
and then backwards, so that his head struck heavily against the iron leg
of his own bedstead.

Then, thoroughly up now, Tom flung himself upon his cousin, tore off his
glo