a
laugh, quoting from the Bible, which, it was well known, Tom Turner read
daily.

"`I am taught,' said Tom, turning gravely to the last speaker, `as far
as lies in me, to live peaceably with all men. I have tried to do this,
and find it impossible to live peaceably with Jacob Free--therefore--'

"He stopped, pulled off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and threw
himself into the pugilistic attitude.

"We did not trouble ourselves about ceremony in that school. We had
neither seconds, bottles, nor sponges. I went at him at once, and,
remembering the advice of Tadpole, made a tremendous blow at his face.
Tom scarcely moved a muscle; he merely put his head a little to one side
and let the blow pass. Like lightning I delivered my left. Tom let it
pass in the same way. Surprised and maddened I sent in another blow,
lunging to my full extent. He merely drew back from the waist and the
blow fell short. At the same moment I received a tap on the bridge of
my nose which raised a host of stars in my imagination. In short, I
found myself at the mercy of a well-trained boxer. Perceiving this I
grew desperate, and sprang at my adversary with the intention of
grappling him, but he stepped lightly to one side and I shot past him.
This would have been a trifling matter had we not edged rather near to
the river. In my blind rage I went head-foremost into the deep pool,
already mentioned as the black hole. I could not swim. I rose with a
gurgling cry and sank again. Turner knew that I was drowning. He was a
splendid swimmer, and instantly sprang in and caught me, but I seized
him round the neck and dragged him under, while the boys shouted in
consternation on the bank.

"Their cries soon brought assistance, but, ere it arrived, we had been
sucked within the influence of the dam where the stream went under the
sluice with great violence. As we struck against the sluice I caught
it. Turner held on to me, but was dragged partially under. Another
moment and two powerful countrymen had hold of me, and pulled me out.
They had more difficulty with Turner. His right leg had got entangled,
and, in dragging him forcibly out, they broke it.

"This event was the great turning-point in my schoolboy life. Remorse
began to tell upon me while they carried him home, but words cannot
describe the agony of my mind when, a fortnight afterwards, I was
admitted to his room and saw him lying, a mere wreck of his former self,
but wit