ce, turning red and
pale with excitement as he thought of the money he had at stake, and
remembered that the skiff on which all his hopes lay was first in order,
and would therefore be most likely to suffer by any momentary confusion.
"Come, Brogten, let's stop him somehow before it's too late."

"Let's cut the scoundrel's ropes," said Brogten between his teeth; and
at once the three darted forward at full speed, at the very instant that
the sharp crack of the final signal-gun was heard.

It so happened that Julian and Lillyston had started rather late for the
races, and had come up with the barge just as it had first neglected the
summons of Bruce and Fitzurse.

"Come, bargee," said Lillyston good-humouredly, "out of the way with the
barge as quick as ever you can; there's a boat-race, and you'll spoil
the fun."

"Oh, it's a race, be it?" said the man, as he instantly helped Lillyston
to back the horses. "If them young jackanapes had only toald me, 'stead
of blusterin' that way--"

His speech was interrupted by Bruce, who, with his friends, had
instantly sprung at the ropes, and cut them in half a dozen places,
while the great heavy horses, frightened out of their propriety, turned
tail and bolted away at a terrifically heavy trot.

"You big hulking blackguard," roared Brogten, who had been the first to
use his knife, "why the devil didn't you move when we told you? What
business have louts like you to come blundering up the river, and spoil
our races?" And Fitzurse, confident in superior numbers, gave emphasis
to the question by knocking off the man's cap.

The bargee was a strongly-built, stupid, healthy-looking young man, of
some twenty-three years old, who, from being slow of passion was all the
more terrible when aroused. Not finding any vent for his anger in
words, he suddenly seized Bruce, (who of the three stood nearest him),
by the collar of his boating jersey, shook him as he might have done a
baby, and almost before he was aware, pitched him into the river.
Instantly swinging round, he gave Lord Fitzurse a butt with his elbow,
which sent his lordship tottering into the ditch on the other side, and
while his wrath was still blazing, received in one eye a blow from
Brogten's strong fist, which for an instant made him reel.

But it was only for an instant, and then he repaid Brogten with a cuff
which felled him to the ground. Brogten was mad with fury. At that
moment the men were running round th