ur fight. Very well: it is none
of my seeking, and I don't think we shall have Captain Purlrose to stop
it."

They came to a stand about a yard apart, and delivered themselves each
of a short nod, but for some moments neither spoke.

"Well," said Mark at last, "are you ready?"

"Yes," replied Ralph; "here or somewhere among the trees."

"Of course. We don't want to be seen."

They walked off side by side till they reached a patch of grass, fairly
level and free from stones, where they flung their caps on the ground,
and drew their swords; a dove high up in view of the cliff breaking out,
as if ironically, with a soft, gentle coo. But their minds were too
much occupied with war to think of the bird of peace. Then all at once
Mark rested his point upon the toe of his high boot.

"Look here," he said; "if I stop to say something now, will you promise
me that you will not think it an excuse to keep from fighting?"

"Let me hear what it is," said Ralph coldly; and Mark flushed and raised
his point again.

"No!" he cried. "Yes: I will say it, and you may think I'm a coward if
you like. I don't care."

"What is it?" said Ralph, making a dimple on the toe of his boot with
his sword point.

"Well, it's this," said Mark; "and mind, I'm speaking to you as an
enemy."

"Of course," said Ralph.

"Old Master Rayburn said to me, that as my father did not put a stop to
the doings of this Captain Purlrose, I ought to do it."

"That's exactly what he said to me."

Mark hesitated for a moment or two, and then, as if speaking with an
effort, he blurted out:

"And thought I ought to join you, each getting together some men, and
going and taking the ruffians by surprise."

"Yes; and he said all that to me."

"Oh! Well, it's quite impossible for us to fight together as friends,
isn't it?"

"Quite," cried Ralph.

"We did once, though," suggested Mark.

"Yes, so we did. Well, couldn't we again if we tried?"

"I don't know," said Mark thoughtfully. "We should have to do it in
secret if we did."

"Oh yes; nobody must know, or it would be stopped."

"Well, I've thought a deal about it. What do you say? Shall we try?"

"I will, if you will."

"And you won't think I don't want to fight you now?"

"Well, I can't help thinking that. You don't want to, do you?"

Mark frowned, and was silent for a few moments, before saying hurriedly:

"I want to fight the enemy of my house, but I don't want to fight you i