pot, burst through the throng, and seized Lamb's hand. Lamb
struck him a heavy blow, taking him for an enemy; but Hugh cried "I am
your friend," seized his hand again, and tugged till he was first red
and then black in the face, and till Lamb had worked his shoulders out
of the hole, and seemed likely to have the use of his other arm in a
trice.

Lamb's tormentors at first let Hugh alone in amazement; but they were
not long in growing angry with him too. They hustled him--they pulled
him all ways--they tripped him up; but Hugh's spirit was roused, and
that brought his body up to the struggle again and again. He wrenched
himself free, he scrambled to his feet again, as often as he was thrown
down; and in a few minutes he had plenty of support. Phil was taking his
part, and shielding him from many blows. Firth had got Lamb out of the
hole; and the party against the tormentors was now so strong that they
began to part off till the struggle ceased. Firth kept his grasp of the
spade; for Lamb's passion still ran so high that there was no saying
what might be the consequences of leaving any dangerous weapon within
his reach. He was still fuming and stamping, Hugh gazing at him the
while in wonder and fear.

"There stands your defender, Lamb," said Firth, "thinking he never saw a
boy in a passion before. Come, have done with it for his sake: be a
man, as he is. Here, help me to fill up this hole--both of you. Stamp
down the earth, Lamb. Tread it well--tread your anger well down into it.
Think of this little friend of yours here--a Crofton boy only
yesterday!"

Lamb did help to fill the hole, but he did not say a word--not one word
to anybody, till the dinner-bell rang. Then, at the pump, where the
party were washing their hot and dirty and bruised hands, he held out
his hand to Hugh, muttering, with no very good grace--

"I don't know what made you help me, but I will never be in a passion
with you:--unless you put me out, that is."

Hugh replied that he had come to help because he never could bear to see
anybody _made worse_. He always tried at home to keep the little boys
and girls off "drunk old Tom," as he was called in the neighbourhood. It
was such a shame to make anybody worse! Lamb looked as if he was going
to fly at Hugh now: but Firth put his arm round Hugh's neck, and drew
him into the house, saying in his ear--

"Don't say any more that you have no friends here. You have me for one;
and you might have had an