omewhat embarrassed
spectator of the scene.

"Puppy play, Jack!" he said, quietly. "You have seen plenty of it in
Germany. One puppy _is_ a puppy, more's the pity, and the other has red
hair. Well! well! I did hope this could have been avoided; but we must
not let it go any further. I wish Roger were here. I wonder if you can
help me out, Jack."

"I'll do my best, sir!" said Jack, heartily.

"You see, I must go off; I ought to be at the village landing this
moment, to see about that freight that is coming. Do you think you can
keep the peace till I come back?"

"I think I can," said Jack. "I'll make a good try for it, anyhow, Mr.
Merryweather."

"That's a good lad!" said the Chief. "You could knock both their heads
together, if you put your mind--and your biceps--to it; but I hope that
will not be necessary. In any case, don't let them fight! I promised his
mother."

He nodded, and, settling himself in a boat, departed with long, powerful
strokes.

Jack, left alone, shook his curly head, and felt of his arms.

"Ah'm fit!" he said, quoting another and a bigger Jock than himself.
"But it's a pity. That fellow is not only a puppy, he is a cur. I never
saw anybody who needed a thrashing more." And he went and coiled himself
in a hammock, and prepared to keep watch.

An hour later Mr. Claud Belleville, once more dry, if somewhat shorn of
his glory, reappeared upon the scene. As he came out of his tent, Gerald
strolled carelessly out of the boat-house, his hands in his pockets.

"Cousin Rowdy, a word with you, if you please!" said Claud.

"Cousin Cad, two, if you like!" said Gerald.

"In France, where I live," Mr. Belleville resumed, "when we are
insulted, we fight."

"No! do you really?" cried Gerald, his eyes sparkling as he began
eagerly to turn back his cuffs. "Hooray! I say, shake hands, Claud. I
didn't think you had it in you. There's a bully place up behind the
woodshed. Come on!"

Claud Belleville, who really was no coward, started forward readily: but
at this moment Destiny intervened, in the shape of six foot four of John
Ferrers. Uncoiling his length from the hammock, he took two strides
forward, and lifting Gerald in his arms as if he were an infant, carried
him off bodily. Gerald, who was strong and agile as a young panther,
fought and struggled, pouring out a torrent of angry protest; but in
vain. When Jack put forth his full strength, there was no possibility of
resistance. He bore the furiou