erations among the rabbit burrows to see what was going to happen.

'To your post, Gerald,' shouted Allan; and Gerald made a dart towards
the besiegers, just in time to avoid being caught in a rain of clods
which hurtled through the air.

Allan and Reggie showed great dexterity in avoiding the missiles, but
Harry and Gerald, not having had so much practice in this kind of
warfare, acted the part of unwilling targets, and their neat suits were
soon bespattered with mud.

'All in the day's work, eh?' said Allan, as he hurried past Gerald, who
was somewhat ruefully wiping the dirt off his cheek with one hand;
'Awful fun, isn't it?'

'Awfully jolly,' assented Gerald, trying not to think that in the
bottom of his heart there was a doubt.

A fresh shower of sods came from the cottage, accompanied by shouts
both from besiegers and besieged; and Laddie, who had been looking on
with a puzzled face and trying to make out what was the matter, came to
the conclusion that his young friends were engaged in deadly warfare,
and rushed between the opposing sides with a bark and a wagging tail,
bent upon making peace.

'Down, Laddie, down,' shouted Allan, as the dog jumped up to lick his
face, after running frenziedly from one side to the other; 'trust, sir!
Go and lie down;' and Laddie, looking heart-broken, retired to the turf
dyke and lay watching the fray in consternation.

The battle raged long and furiously, neither side appearing to gain the
advantage.

The attacking party pressed round the walls of the cottage, only to be
beaten back by the projectiles which were showered upon them. Nerving
themselves to fresh efforts, they rushed to the attack, Allan calm,
Reggie intrepid, and the two Grahams animated by the wildest excitement.

Seeing one spot undefended, Gerald made a dash for it, and had already
one foot on the wall, preparatory to scaling the cottage, when 'swish'
came a lump of sea-weed in his face; and before he had recovered from
the shock a pair of strong hands seized him and Marjorie's voice
shouted, 'A prisoner!'

A wild rush was made to effect a rescue, but Hamish came to Marjorie's
assistance, and Gerald was pulled kicking and struggling up on the roof.

'Now you had better sit down quietly,' said Hamish; 'you can watch the
fight from behind the chimney,' and Gerald was reluctantly obliged to
remain inactive.

Furious at the loss of one of their number, the attacking party
precipitated themselves agai