he let out, and stand up for himself?

So, to Brinkman's utter amazement, he was met by a blow and a defiant
challenge to "come on."

What Brinkman might have done is doubtful, but at that moment Yorke and
Ranger strolled by.

"Hullo! What's this? A fight?" said the captain.

"Rather," said Corder, now thoroughly strung up to the point. "I say,
Yorke, will you stop and see fair play?"

The captain hesitated a moment. Any other fight he would have felt it
his duty to stop. This fight seemed to be an exception. It would
probably do more good than harm.

"Yes, if you like," said he.

"I'm not going to fight a little beggar like that," said Brinkman.

"Yes, you are," said Ranger, "and I'll see fair play for you."

"I promise you I'll make it so hot for him that he'll be sorry for it."

"I don't care," said Corder. "If you don't fight you're a coward.
There!"

At this point Dangle came out.

"Here, your man wants a second," said Ranger; "you'll suit him better
than I."

The usual crowd collected, minus the junior faction, who complained
bitterly for a year after that they had been deliberately done out of
being present by the malice of the principals. One result of their
absence was that the proceedings were comparatively quiet. Every one
present knew what the quarrel was, and not a few, for their own sakes,
hoped Corder would make a good fight of it.

Dangle sneered at the whole thing, and counselled his man audibly not to
be too hard on the little fool.

His advice was not wanted. Corder, for a fellow of his make and
inexperience, exhibited good form, and persistently walked his man round
the ring, dodging his blows and getting in a knock for himself every now
and then. Brinkman soon dropped the disdainful style in which he
commenced proceedings, and became proportionately wild and unsteady.

"Now's your chance, young 'un; he's lost his temper," whispered the
captain.

Whereupon Corder, hardly knowing how he managed it, danced his man once
more round and round, till he was out of breath, and then slipped in
with a right, left--left, right, which, though they made up hardly one
good blow among them, were so well planted, and followed one another so
rapidly, that Brinkman lost his balance under them, and fell sprawling
on the ground.

At the same moment Mr Stratton came up, and the crowd dispersed as if
by magic.

"What is this?" said the master, appealing to the captain.

"A fight, sir,