Then you may hear a pin fall, as Basil, stern of eye and tight of lip,
stands fast and waits his man. The knowing ones look anxiously to where
the solid Culver squares, and take cheer; for he is flushed and eager,
and his lips are open as he walks into the fray. And Heathcote calls
loud upon his hero, and Birket bids him straight "go in and win." Gosse
yet again bids the solid one "hit low!" and the unknowing ones cry "two
to one on Culver."

The heroes meet, and Culver, gathering up his might, makes feint at
Basil's head. Up goes the wary arm of Basil, which marking, Culver
smites hard and low, a villain thrust hard on the hero's belt. Whereat
Gosse cries aloud "bravo!" but Heathcote rages and shouts "belt!" and
would himself spring into the fray, but Birket holds him back.

For Basil's eyes flash fire, and on the distant staircase stands already
Cresswell, ready to stop the fight. "A minute more," cries Birket, and
the ring is still as when Etna, ready to burst, sleeps.

Then does Basil the son of Richard gather himself together and draw
breath, while Culver, sure of his man, steps back for a mighty blow.
Dick sees it coming, and marks with a quick cool eye its fierce descent.
With half a step he avoids it, and as the solid form sways past he
greets it right and left with well-aimed blows, which send it headlong
to the dust two long yards distant.

Then, as when the swelling torrent breaks with one furious bound into
the vale below, does the crowd burst into the ring, and, with mighty
shouts, proclaim a victory to the light-footed son of Richard. And,
behold, as they do so, the towering form of Cresswell comes in view and
bears down upon the scene.

Never did swarm of mice, spying Grimalkin afar, scamper quicker to their
holes than do the youths of Templeton vanish before the distant view of
Cresswell. Victor and vanquished, knowing and unknowing--all but one,
fade to sight, and ere the monitor can stop the fight, the fight is
over.

Birket alone remained to meet the senior.

"Well," said the latter, "is it all over?"

"Rather," said the Fifth-form boy. "I'm awfully glad you didn't come
sooner."

"Bless you," said Cresswell, "I've been watching it for the last five
minutes, so I ought to know when to turn up."

"You have? Then you saw the finish? The youngster made as neat a job
of it as I ever saw."

"It was rather pretty," said Cresswell. "He'd something to make up for,
though, after ma