f your life."

"It's no use crying," said I, soothingly: for I had not wished him to be
flogged. "What's done can't be helped. Did it hurt you much?"

This intended consolation was taken for sarcasm. Barnaby stormed.

"Take it coolly," observed I.

Barnaby waxed even more wroth.

"Better luck next time," continued I, trying to soothe him.

Barnaby was outrageous--he shook his fist and ran into the play-ground,
daring me to follow him. His threats had no weight with me; not wishing
to remain indoors, I followed him in a minute or two, when I found him
surrounded by the other boys, to whom he was in loud and vehement
harangue.

"Cinderella, where's your glass slippers?" cried the boys, as I made my
appearance.

"Come out, you water-rat," cried Barnaby, "you son of a cinder!"

"Come out and fight him, or else you're a coward!" exclaimed the whole
host, from Number 1 to Number 62, inclusive.

"He has had beating enough already to my mind," replied I; "but he had
better not touch me--I can use my arms."

A ring was formed, in the centre of which I found Barnaby and myself.
He took off his clothes, and I did the same. He was much older and
stronger than I, and knew something about fighting. One boy came
forward as my second. Barnaby advanced and held out his hand, which I
shook heartily, thinking it was all over: but immediately received a
right and left on the face, which sent me reeling backwards. This was a
complete mystery, but it raised my bile, and I returned it with
interest. I was very strong in my arms, as may be supposed; and I threw
them about like sails of a windmill, never hitting straight out, but
with semicircular blows, which descended on or about his ears. On the
contrary, his blows were all received straightforward, and my nose and
face were soon covered with blood. As I warmed with pain and rage I
flung out my arms at random, and Barnaby gave me a knock-down blow. I
was picked up and sat upon my second's knee, who whispered to me as I
spat the blood out of my mouth, "Take it coolly, and make sure when you
hit."

My own--my father's maxim--coming from another, it struck with double
force, and I never forgot it during the remainder of the fight. Again
we were standing up face to face; again I received it right and left,
and returned it upon his right and left ears. Barnaby rushed in--I was
down again.

"Better luck next time," said I to my second, as cool as a cucumber.

A thir