of the rights of the case. Lillyston's
voice, too, began to be loudly heard, and several dons among the crowd
exerted themselves to restore order out of the hubbub.

There is nothing like a touch of manliness. A feeble, and fussy, and
finicking little proctor, who happened to be on the bank, was pompously
endeavouring to assert his dignity, and make himself attended to. He
was just beginning to get indignant at the laughing contempt with which
his impotent efforts were received, and was asking men for their names
and colleges, in a futile sort of way, when a tall and stately tutor in
the crowd raised his voice above the uproar, and said, "Silence,
gentlemen, if you please, for a moment." He was recognised and
respected, and the men made room for him into the centre of the throng.

"Now, my man, just tell us what's the matter." The man was beginning to
tell them how wantonly his ropes had been cut, and he himself insulted,
when Bruce broke in, "That's a lie, you beggar; we asked you to move,
and you wouldn't. I'll have you in prison yet, my fine fellow, you'll
see."

"And if I don't make you pay for they ropes, you young pink-and-white
monkey, my name ain't Jem--that's all."

"Did anybody see what really took place?" asked the don, cutting short
the altercation.

"Yes, I did," said Lillyston instantly; "the fellow was civil enough,
and began to back his horses the moment I told him there was a race,
when these gentlemen ran up, abused him, struck him, and cut the ropes."

"Ay, it's all very fine for you gentlefolk," said the man with bitter
scorn, "to take away a poor man's living for your pleasure. How do you
think I'm to pay for them ropes? Am I to take the bread out of the
children's mouths, let alone being kicked and speered at? Hang you all,
I ain't afeard o' none o' you; come on, the whole lot o' you to one. I
ain't afeard--not I," he said again, glaring round like a bull at bay,
and stripping an arm of iron strength.

"I never cut your ropes, you brute," said Bruce, between his teeth,
"though you wouldn't move when we asked you civilly."

"What's _that_, then?" said the man, pointing to a bit of rope two
inches long which Bruce still held dangling in his hand.

"I'm afraid you forget the facts, Bruce, in your excitement," said
Lillyston, very sternly.

"Facts or not, I'll have you up for assault," said Bruce affectedly,
wringing the mud out of his wet sleeve.

"Have me up for assault," mimic