signal for
the seconds to hide their fears under an assumed air of jovial
confidence.

"You'll be certain to lick him, Jack," said Diggory, with a face as long
as a fiddle;--"won't he, 'Rats'?"

"Lick him!" answered "Rats;" "I should think so! Lick him into fits;
I could do it myself."

"He's a beastly bully," added Mugford solemnly; "and bullies always get
licked--in books."

"I don't care," answered Jack jauntily, "if I lick him or not, but I
know he'll find me a pretty hard nut to crack."

Ronleigh had no recognized duelling-ground, but when a premeditated
encounter did take place, the combatants usually resorted to a little
patch of grass situated between the back of the pavilion and the edge
of the adjoining field. Here it was possible to conduct an affair of
honour without much fear of interruption.

Grundy was already at the trysting-place, accompanied by Andson, a chum
from the Upper Fourth, and Fletcher junior. It was quite an informal
little gathering, and the business was conducted in a free-and-easy
manner, and with an entire absence of the cut-and-dried ceremony which
characterized similar undertakings in the palmy days of the prize ring.

"Look here, young Vance," said Grundy, "if you like to apologize for
calling me a liar, I'll let you off; if not, I'm going to punch your
head."

"Punch away!" answered Jack stolidly, and all further attempt at
pacification was abandoned.

The principals took off their coats and collars, while their companions
drew aside to give them room, and the signal was given to commence the
action.

Grundy made no attempt at any display of science; he simply relied on
his superior strength and size, and charged down upon his adversary with
the intention of thumping and pounding him till he gave in. Jack Vance
knew very little about the "noble art," except that it was the proper
thing to hit straight from the shoulder; and following out this
fundamental principle, he succeeded in landing his opponent a good hard
drive between the eyes, which made him see more stars than are to be
witnessed at the explosion of a sixpenny rocket. Grundy drew back, and
after blinking and rubbing his nose for a moment, came on again, this
time with greater caution. Jack, on the other hand, emboldened by his
previous success, made an unwise attempt to rush the fighting, and was
rewarded with a sounding smack on the cheek-bone which broke the skin
and sent him staggering back into the a