one in the school
knew that Eric was not afraid. So sure was he of this, that, for the
sake of "auld lang syne," he would probably have declined to fight with
Montagu had it been left to his own impulses.

"I have been in the wrong, Montagu, more than once," he answered
falteringly, "and we have been friends--"

But it was the object of many of the worst boys that the two should
fight--not only that they might see the fun, but that Montagu's
authority, which stood in their way, might be flung aside. So Booking
whispered in an audible voice--

"Faith! he's showing the white feather."

"You're a liar!" flung in Eric; and turning to Montagu, he said, "There!
I'll fight you this moment."

Instantly they had stripped off their coats and prepared for action. A
ring of excited boys crowded round them. Fellows of sixteen, like
Montagu and Eric, rarely fight, because their battles have usually been
decided in their earlier schooldays; and it was also but seldom that two
boys so strong, active, and prominent (above all, so high in the school)
took this method of settling their differences.

The fight began, and at first the popular favour was entirely on the
side of Eric, while Montagu found few or none to back him. But he
fought with a fire and courage which soon won applause; and as Eric, on
the other hand, was random and spiritless, the cry was soon pretty
fairly divided between them.

After a sharp round they paused for breath, and Owen, who had been a
silent and disgusted spectator of such a combat between boys of such
high standing, said with much feeling--

"This is not a very creditable affair, Montagu."

"It is necessary," was Montagu's laconic reply. Among other boys who
had left the room before the fracas had taken place was Vernon Williams,
who shrank away to avoid the pain of seeing his new friend Wright
bullied and tormented. But curiosity soon took him back, and he came in
just as the second round began. At first he only saw a crowd of boys in
the middle of the room, but jumping on a desk, he had a full view of
what was going on.

There was a tremendous hubbub of voices, and Eric, now thoroughly roused
by the remarks he overheard, and especially by Wildney's whisper that
"he was letting himself be licked," was exerting himself with more
vigour and effect. It was anything but a pleasant sight; the faces of
the combatants were streaked with blood and sweat, and as the miserable
gang of lower-sc