’Fight，forthesakeofthejuniorfirst，’criedthelittlefellowinmyear，thecleverone，theheadofourclass，whohadmockedJohnFry，andknewallabouttheaorists，andtriedtomakemeknowit；butIneverwentmorethanthreeplacesup，andthenitwasanaccident，andIcamedownafterdinner。Theboyswereurgentroundmetofight，thoughmystomachwasnotupforit；andbeingveryslowofwit(whichisnotchargeableonme)，Ilookedfromonetootherofthem，seekinganycureforit。NotthatIwasafraidoffighting，fornowIhadbeenthreeyearsatBlundell’s，andfoughten，allthattime，afightatleastonceeveryweek，tilltheboysbegantoknowme；onlythattheloadonmyheartwasnotsprightlyasofthehay-field。Itisaverysadthingtodwellon；butevennow，inmytimeofwisdom，Idoubtitisafondthingtoimagine，andamotherlytoinsistupon，thatboyscandowithoutfighting。Unlesstheybeverygoodboys，andafraidofoneanother。
’Nay，’Isaid，withmybackagainstthewrought-ironstayofthegate，whichwassocketedintoCop’shouse-front：’Iwillnotfighttheenow，RobinSnell，butwaittillIcomebackagain。’
’Takecoward’sblow，JackRidd，then，’criedhalfadozenlittleboys，shovingBobSnellforwardtodoit；
becausetheyallknewwellenough，havingstrivenwithmeerenow，andprovedmetobetheirmaster——theyknew，Isay，thatwithoutgreatchange，Iwouldneveracceptthatcontumely。ButItooklittleheedofthem，lookingindullwondermentatJohnFry，andSmiler，andtheblunderbuss，andPeggy。JohnFrywasscratchinghishead，Icouldsee，andgettingblueintheface，bythelightfromCop’sparlour-window，andgoingtoandfrouponSmiler，asifhewerehardsetwithit。AndallthetimehewaslookingbrisklyfrommyeyestothefistIwasclenching，andmethoughthetriedtowinkatmeinacovertmanner；andthenPeggywhiskedhertail。
’ShallIfight，John？’Isaidatlast；’Iwouldanyouhadnotcome，John。’
’Chraist’swillbedone；Izimtheehadbetterfaight，Jan，’heanswered，inawhisper，throughthegridironofthegate；’therebeadaleoffaightingavorethee。
Bestwaitobegingudetaimelaike。Wullthegeatmanlattmein，tozeeastheehastvairplai，lad？’
Helookeddoubtfullydownatthecolourofhiscowskinboots，andthemireuponthehorses，forthesloughswereexceedinglymucky。Peggy，indeed，mysorrelpony，beinglighterofweight，wasnotcrustedmuchovertheshoulders；butSmiler(ouryoungestsledder)
hadbeenwellinoverhiswithers，andnonewouldhavedeemedhimapiebald，saveofredmireandblackmire。
Thegreatblunderbuss，moreover，waschokedwithadollopofslough-cake；andJohnFry’ssad-colouredSundayhatwasinduedwithaplumeofmarish-weed。
AllthisIsawwhilehewasdismounting，heavilyandwearily，liftinghislegfromthesaddle-clothasifwithasorecrickinhisback。
Bythistimethequestionoffightingwasgonequiteoutofourdiscretion；forsundryoftheelderboys，graveandreverendsignors，whohadtakennosmallpleasureinteachingourhandstofight，toward，toparry，tofeignandcounter，tolungeinthemannerofsword-play，andtheweakerchildtodropononekneewhennocunningoffencemightbaffletheonset——thesegreatmastersoftheart，whowouldfarlieferseeuslittleonespractiseitthanthemselvesengage，sixorsevenofthemcamerunningdowntheroundedcauseway，havingheardthattherehadarisen’asnuglittlemill’
atthegate。NowwhetherthatwordhathorigininaGreektermmeaningaconflict，asthebest-readboysasseverated，orwhetheritisnothingmorethanafigureofsimilitude，fromthebeatingarmsofamill，suchasIhaveseenincountieswherearenowaterbrooks，butfolkmakebreadwithwind——itisnotforamandevoidofscholarshiptodetermine。Enoughthattheywhomadetheringintituledthescenea’mill，’whilewewhomustbethumpedinsideittriedtorejoiceintheirpleasantry，tillitturneduponthestomach。
Moreover，Ifeltuponmenowacertainresponsibility，adutifulneedtomaintain，inthepresenceofJohnFry，themanlinessoftheRiddfamily，andthehonourofExmoor。Hithertononehadworstedme，althoughinthethreeyearsofmyschooling，Ihadfoughtmorethanthreescorebattles，andbedewedwithbloodeveryplantofgrasstowardsthemiddleoftheIroning-box。AndthissuccessIowedatfirsttonoskillofmyown；
untilIcametoknowbetter；foruptotwentyorthirtyfights，Istruckasnatureguidedme，nowiserthanafather-long-legsintheheatofalanthorn；butIhadconquered，partlythroughmynativestrength，andtheExmoortoughnessinme，andstillmorethatIcouldnotseewhenIhadgottenmybellyful。ButnowIwasliketohavethatandmore；formyheartwasdown，tobeginwith；andthenRobertSnellwasabiggerboythanIhadeverencountered，andasthickintheskullandhardinthebrainasevenIcouldclaimtobe。
Ihadnevertoldmymotherawordaboutthesefrequentstrivings，becauseshewassoft-hearted；neitherhadI
toldbyfather，becausehehadnotseenit。Therefore，beholdingmestillaninnocent-lookingchild，withfaircurlsonmyforehead，andnostoreofbadlanguage，JohnFrythoughtthiswastheveryfirstfightthateverhadbefallenme；andsowhentheylethimatthegate，’withamessagetotheheadmaster，’asoneofthemonitorstoldCop，andPeggyandSmilerweretiedtotherailings，tillIshouldbethroughmybusiness，Johncomesuptomewiththetearsinhiseyes，andsays，’Doon’ttheegoofortodoit，Jan；doon’ttheedoit，forgudenow。’ButItoldhimthatnowitwasmuchtoolatetocryoff；sohesaid，’TheLordbewiththee，Jan，andturnthythumb-knuckleinwards。’
Itwasnotaverylargepieceofgroundintheangleofthecauseways，butquitebigenoughtofightupon，especiallyforChristians，wholovedtobecheekbyjowlatit。Thegreatboysstoodinacirclearound，beinggiftedwithstrongprivilege，andthelittleboyshadleavetolieflatandlookthroughthelegsofthegreatboys。Butwhilewewereyetpreparing，andthecandleshissedinthefog-cloud，oldPhoebe，ofmorethanfourscoreyears，whoseroomwasoverthehall-porch，camehobblingout，asshealwaysdid，tomarthejoyoftheconflict。Nooneeverheededher，neitherdidsheexpectit；buttheevilwasthattwoseniorboysmustalwayslosethefirstroundofthefight，byhavingtoleadherhomeagain。
ImarvelhowRobinSnellfelt。Verylikelyhethoughtnothingofit，alwayshavingbeenaboyofahectoringandunrulysort。ButIfeltmyheartgoupanddownastheboyscameroundtostripme；andgreatlyfearingtobebeaten，Iblewhotuponmyknuckles。ThenpulledI
offmylittlecutjerkin，andlaiditdownonmyheadcap，andoverthatmywaistcoat，andaboywasproudtotakecareofthem。ThomasHooperwashisname，andI
rememberhowhelookedatme。Mymotherhadmadethatlittlecutjerkin，inthequietwinterevenings。Andtakenpridetoloopitupinafashionableway，andI
waslothtosoilitwithblood，andgoodfilberdswereinthepocket。ThenuptomecameRobinSnell(mayorofExeterthricesincethat)，andhestoodverysquare，andlookingatme，andIlackednotlongtolookathim。Roundhiswaisthehadakerchiefbuskinguphissmall-clothes，andonhisfeetlightpumpkinshoes，andallhisupperraimentoff。Andhedancedaboutinawaythatmademyheadswimonmyshoulders，andhestoodsomeinchesoverme。ButI，beingmuddledwithmuchdoubtaboutJohnFryandhiserrand，wasonlystrippedofmyjerkinandwaistcoat，andnotcomfortabletobegin。
’Comenow，shakehands，’criedabigboy，jumpinginjoyofthespectacle，athird-formernearlysixfeethigh；’shakehands，youlittledevils。Keepyourpluckup，andshowgoodsport，andLordlovethebettermanofyou。’
Robintookmebythehand，andgazedatmedisdainfully，andthensmotemepainfullyintheface，ereIcouldgetmyfenceup。
’Whuttbe’bout，lad？’criedJohnFry；’huttunagain，Jan，wull’e？Welldonethen，ourJanboy。’
ForIhadrepliedtoRobinnow，withalltheweightandcadenceofpenthemimeralcaesura(athing，thenameofwhichIknow，butcouldnevermakeheadnortailofit)，andthestrifebeganinaseriousstyle，andtheboyslookingonwerenotcheated。AlthoughIcouldnotcollecttheirshoutswhentheblowswereringinguponme，itwasnogreatloss；forJohnFrytoldmeafterwardsthattheiroathswentuplikeafurnacefire。Buttothesewepaidnoheedorhap，beinginthethickofswinging，anddevoidofjudgment。AllI
knowis，Icametomycorner，whentheroundwasover，withveryhardpumpsinmychest，andagreatdesiretofallaway。
’Timeisup，’criedhead-monitor，ereeverIgotmybreathagain；andwhenIfainwouldhavelingeredawhileonthekneeoftheboythatheldme。JohnFryhadcomeup，andtheboyswerelaughingbecausehewantedastablelanthorn，andthreatenedtotellmymother。
’Timeisup，’criedanotherboy，moreheadlongthanhead-monitor。’Ifwecountthreebeforethecomeofthee，thwackedthouart，andmustgotothewomen。’I
feltitharduponme。Hebegantocount，one，too，three——butbeforethe’three’wasoutofhismouth，I
wasfacingmyfoe，withbothhandsup，andmybreathgoingroughandhot，andresolvedtowaittheturnofit。ForIhadfoundseatonthekneeofaboysageandskilledtotutorme，whoknewhowmuchtheendveryoftendiffersfromthebeginning。Arareripescholarhewas；andnowhehathrouteduptheGermansinthematterofcriticism。Surethecleverboysandmenhavemostlovetowardsthestupidones。
’Finishhimoff，Bob，’criedabigboy，andthatI
noticedespecially，becauseIthoughtitunkindofhim，aftereatingofmytoffeeashehadthatafternoon；
’finishhimoff，neckandcrop；hedeservesitforstickinguptoamanlikeyou。’
ButIwasnotsotobefinishedoff，thoughfeelinginmyknucklesnowasifitwereabluenessandasenseofchilblain。Nothingheldexceptmylegs，andtheyweregoodtohelpme。Sothisbout，orround，ifyouplease，wasfoughtenwarilybyme，withgentlerecollectionofwhatmytutor，thecleverboy，hadtoldme，andsomeresolvetoearnhispraisebeforeIcamebacktohiskneeagain。Andnever，Ithink，inallmylife，soundedsweeterwordsinmyears(exceptwhenmylovelovedme)thanwhenmysecondandbacker，whohadmadehimselfpartofmydoingsnow，andwouldhavewepttoseemebeaten，said，——
’Famouslydone，Jack，famously!Onlykeepyourwindup，Jack，andyou’llgorightthroughhim!’
MeanwhileJohnFrywasprowlingabout，askingtheboyswhattheythoughtofit，andwhetherIwasliketobekilled，becauseofmymother’strouble。ButfindingnowthatIhadfoughtenthree-scorefightsalready，hecameuptomewoefully，inthequicknessofmybreathing，whileIsatonthekneeofmysecond，withapieceofspongiouscorallinetoeasemeofmybloodshed，andhesaysinmyears，asifhewasclappingspursintoahorse，——
’Nevertheeknackunder，Jan，ornevercoomnaighHexmoornomore。’
Withthatitwasallupwithme。Asimmeringbuzzedinmyheavybrain，andalightcamethroughmyeyeplaces。
AtonceIsetbothfistsagain，andmyheartstucktomelikecobbler’swax。EitherRobinSnellshouldkillme，orIwouldconquerRobinSnell。SoIwentinagainwithmycourageup，andBobcamesmilingforvictory，andIhatedhimforsmiling。Heletatmewithhislefthand，andIgavehimmyrightbetweenhiseyes，andheblinked，andwasnotpleasedwithit。Ifearedhimnot，andsparedhimnot，neithersparedmyself。Mybreathcameagain，andmyheartstoodcool，andmyeyesstruckfirenolonger。OnlyIknewthatIwoulddiesoonerthanshamemybirthplace。HowtherestofitwasIknownot；onlythatIhadtheendofit，andhelpedtoputRobininbed。
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