es of stalwart sons and daughters to strengthen
the power and increase the prestige of Old Albion.

This, however, by the way. Of course the chief amusement of the guests
was games, followed by songs and dancing in the evenings. And one of
the favourite amusements at the games was scientific boxing, for that
was an entirely new art to the warriors, alike of Albion, Erin, and
Ultima Thule.

It first burst upon their senses as a new and grand idea when Bladud and
Dromas, at the urgent request of their friends, stepped into the arena
and gave a specimen of the manner in which the art was practised in
Hellas. Of course they did not use what we call knuckle-dusters, nor
did they even double their fists, except when moving round each other,
and as "gloves" were unknown, they struck out with the hands half open,
for they had no wish to bleed each other's noses or black each other's
eyes for mere amusement.

At the beginning it was thought that Dromas was no match at all for the
gigantic Bladud, but when the wonderful agility of the former was seen--
the ease with which he ducked and turned aside his head to evade blows,
and the lightning speed with which he countered, giving a touch on the
forehead or a dig in the ribs, smiling all the time as if to say, "How
d'ye like it?" men's minds changed with shouts of surprise and
satisfaction. And they highly approved of the way in which the
champions smilingly shook hands after the bout was over--as they had
done before it began.

They did not, however, perceive the full value of the art until an
ambitious young chief from Ultima Thule--a man of immense size and
rugged mould with red hair--insisted on Dromas giving him a lesson. The
man from Hellas declined at first, but the man from Thule was urgent,
and there seemed to be a feeling among the warriors that the young
Hellene was afraid.

"It is so difficult," he explained, "to hit lightly and swiftly that
sometimes an unintentionally hard blow is given, and men are apt to lose
their tempers."

This was received with a loud laugh by the Thuler.

"What! _I_ lose my temper on account of a friendly buffet! Besides, I
shall take care not to hit hard--you need not fear."

"As you will," returned Dromas, with a good-humoured smile.

The Thuler stood up and allowed his instructor to put him in the correct
attitude. Then the latter faced him and said, "Now, guard yourself."

Next moment his left hand shot out and gently tou