and fall.

"Thankye, my lad. I say, boy, I didn't think you were so strong."

"Didn't you, Serge?"

"No, boy. My word, it's just as if getting into your armour had
stiffened you all over. My word, I wouldn't ha' believed that you could
fight like you did this morning!"

"I felt hot and excited, Serge, and as if I could do anything."

"Didn't feel a bit scared like, though there was six of them?"

"No," said Marcus, thoughtfully; "I never thought anything about their
numbers, only of saving you."

"Thinking all the time it was someone else, sir?"

"Yes, Serge; that was it."

"And you fought fine, sir. Seems to me it's a pity for a youngster like
you to be stopping at home unrolling volumes and making scratches with a
stylus."

"Does it, Serge?"

"Yes, sir, it do; and likewise it seems a pity that such a man as me,
who can do his share of fighting, should be doing nothing better than
driving the swine into the acorn woods."

"And looking after and protecting me, Serge," said Marcus, drily.

"Oh, yes, of course; there was that, of course, Master Marcus; but I
say, sir, don't you think we've both talked enough for the present; I
tackled you and you tackled me in a pretty tidy argument, and both on us
had the best of it in turn. I'm beginning to think that there's good
clear water coming down from the mountain yonder."

"Yes, Serge; it makes me feel thirsty after getting so hot."

"Then, too, I've got a nice loaf in my wallet and a tidy bit o' meat as
I got from a little way back. What do you say to our making a bit o'
breakfast together same as we've done before now in the woods?"

"And settle afterwards about whether we should go back, Serge?" said
Marcus.

"Yes, my lad; that'll be the sensiblest thing to do."

"Yes," said Marcus, "you've talked about it, and it has made me feel
very hungry now."

"Well, look here," said Serge, "we are about even, aren't we?"

"Even!" said Marcus, staring at the man. "Do you mean about both being
hungry?"

"Nay-y-y-ay! About being wicked uns. You've done wrong, you know, and
disobeyed orders."

"Yes," said Marcus, with a sigh.

"So have I. Well, we are both in disgrace, and that makes us even; so,
of course, I can't bully you any more and you can't say ugly things to
me. Fair play's the thing, isn't it?"

"Of course," cried Marcus.

"Well, then, as you've behaved uncommon fine in tackling those rough
ones, and saved my life--"

"Oh no," said Ma