le thing_ to keep them together with, I must say,"
snarled Silk, "and you've made a good start by setting the juniors
against their seniors."

"I've done nothing of the sort," replied Riddell, quietly; "and if
you'll excuse me, I've some work to do, and there's really not much use
talking on the subject."

So saying, he turned, and began taking his books down from the shelf.

Silk, whose irritation had been gradually getting beyond bounds, was
pleased to regard this action as a direct insult to himself, and flared
up accordingly.

"Look here, you snivelling, stuck-up, hypocritical prig, you!" exclaimed
he, advancing and seizing the captain roughly by the arm, "we'd better
come to an understanding at once. If you think you're going to cheek us
just as you please here, you're mistaken, I tell you. What do you mean
by it?"

"By what?" inquired Riddell, mildly, but quite composedly.

Silk's only reply was a passionate blow in the captain's face, which
sent him staggering to the other side of the room.

It was a critical moment. Riddell was no coward, nor was he one of
those sickly individuals who, not satisfied to be struck on one cheek
only, invite a repetition of the assault on the other side. Physically
weak and nervous as he was, he had sufficient British instinct to move
him to stand up for himself.

And yet as he stood there a moment irresolute, it flashed across him
that whatever the cost he must not enter upon a fight with Silk.

Of course he would be called a coward, and nothing he could say could
prove he wasn't. He was no match for Silk, and consequently his refusal
to defend himself would be called fear.

"And yet," thought he, "if I fight, my chance in Welch's is gone, even
if I were able to beat him. The fellows will have no more respect for
me than any other rowdy, and will soon enough make my thrashing an
excuse for mutiny."

It was a hard position for any boy, and the courage required to hold him
back cost Riddell more effort than had he blindly rushed into the fray
and given himself up to be thrashed.

"Will you fight?" shouted Silk, advancing.

"No," said Riddell, as coolly as he could.

"Wretched coward!" exclaimed the bully, "of course you won't. Then take
what you deserve. I'll give you the biggest hiding you ever had in your
life."

He would probably have carried out his threat, and Riddell would
probably before half a minute have given up all further idea of non-
resistanc