was a very enthralling pastime, and he was much upset when one
of the solemn-faced antagonists suddenly grabbed his new school-cap and
put it in his pocket and, without paying any attention to Michael, went
on with the game as if nothing had happened. Michael had no idea how to
grapple with the situation and felt inclined to cry.

"I say, give me my cap," he said at last.

The solemn-faced boys went on in silence with the game.

"I say, please give me my cap," Michael asked again.

No notice was taken of his appeal and Michael, looking round in despair,
saw Rodber. He ran up to him.

"I say, Rodber, that boy over there has got my cap," he said.

"Well, don't come sneaking to me, you young ass. Go and smack his
head."

"Am I to really?" asked Michael.

"Of course."

Michael was not prepared to withstand Rodber's advice, so he went up to
the solemn-faced boy and hit him as hard as he could. The solemn-faced
boy was so much surprized by this attack that he did not for a moment
retaliate, and it was only his friend's gasp 'I say, what fearful
cheek,' that restored him to a sense of what had happened.

In a moment Michael found himself lying on his back and almost smothered
by the solemn-faced boy's whole body and presently suffering agony from
the pressure of the solemn-faced boy's knees upon his arms pinioned
cross-wise. Excited voices chattered about him from an increasing
circle. He heard the solemn-faced boy telling his horrified auditors
that a new kid had smacked his head. He heard various punishments
strongly recommended, and at last with a sense of relief he heard the
quick authoritative voice of the ubiquitous Rodber.

"Let him get up, young Plummer. A fight! A fight!"

Plummer got up, as he was told, and Michael in a circle of eager faces
found himself confronted by Plummer.

"Go on," shouted Rodber. "I'm backing you, young Fane."

Michael lowered his head and charged desperately forward for the honour
of Rodber; but a terrible pain in his nose and another in his arm and a
third in his chin brought tears and blood together in such quantity that
Michael would have liked to throw himself on to the grass and weep his
life out, too weak to contend with solemn-faced boys who snatched caps.

Then over his misery he heard Rodber cry, 'That's enough. It's not fair.
Give him back his cap.' The crowd broke up except for a few admirers of
Rodber, who was telling Michael that he had done tolerably well for a