ing.
You've got swelled lips, and mousy eyes rising, and your noses are a bit
puffy. You have both been fighting."

"Yes, Lom, and see how we've been knocked about."

"Well, boys who will fight must take what they get and not grumble."

"But we didn't want to fight. They made us."

"Why, I thought you two were such friends and mates already. Bah! lads,
you shouldn't fight without there's good reason."

"But we didn't fight," cried Mercer angrily.

"Why, just look at you both! your faces say it as plain as your lips."

"But I mean not together. Eely Burr and big Dicksee came and thrashed
us. They would not leave us alone."

"Oh, come: that's bullying," said Lomax, shaking his head, "and it isn't
a fair match; they're a good two years older than you, and used to
fighting, and you ain't."

"No," said Mercer excitedly; "and it's cruel and cowardly. I'm not a
bit afraid of him, and Burr junior wasn't of his man, and we did the
best we could, but they knocked us about just as they liked, and hit us
where they pleased, and we couldn't hurt them a bit."

"No, you wouldn't be able of course," said the old sergeant
thoughtfully, taking our arms and feeling our muscles. "Well, it was
very plucky of you both to stand up and face 'em, that's all I can say.
Is that why you want to learn to use your fists?"

"Yes, and as soon as we can both box well, we want to give them both
such lickings!" cried Mercer eagerly.

The old sergeant began to laugh in a quiet way, and wiped the tears out
of his eyes.

"Then you want to learn on the sly, and astonish 'em some day?"

"Yes, yes," I said eagerly, for I was as excited as my companion, whose
idea of revenge, now it was explained, seemed to me to be glorious.

"Well, it is tempting," said the sergeant thoughtfully.

"And you'll teach us?"

"And his father fought at Chillianwallah! Yes, it is tempting. You
ought to be able to take your own part if big cowards tackle you."

"Yes, Lom. Then do teach us."

"No. What would the Doctor say?"

"He never should know. We'd never tell, either of us, would we, Burr?"

"Never!" I cried.

"I believe you, boys, that I do," said the old man; "and it was never
forbidden. Never even mentioned," he continued thoughtfully. "I should
like to oblige an old soldier's son."

"And I mean to be an army surgeon," said Mercer.

"And you couldn't do better, my lad."

"Then you'll teach us?" cried Mercer, and I hung upon his ans