THE EIOT 253 



with fierce delight, and a miner fell with a 

 broken head at every blow. Two fell in front 

 of Jack and three went down under Jarvis's club. 

 The battle had now lasted several minutes, and 

 the strain on the young men was telling on their 

 wind ; they struck as hard and parried as well 

 as at first, but they were breathing rapidly. The 

 young men cheered each other with joyous words ; 

 they felt no need of aid. 



" Beats football hollow ! " panted Jarvis. 



" Go in, old man ! you're a dandy full-back ! " 

 came between strokes from Jack. 



Let us leave the boys for a minute and see 

 what the girls are doing. When Jarvis got out 

 of the carriage, he said : 



" Lars, if there is trouble here, you drive on as 

 soon as you can get your horses clear. Never 

 mind us ; we'll walk home. Get the ladies to 

 Four Oaks as soon as possible." 



When the battle began, the miners left the 

 horses to attack the men. This gave a clear 

 road, and Lars was ready to drive on, but the 

 girls were not in the carriage. They had sprung 

 out in the excitement of the first sound of blows ; 

 and now stood watching with glowing eyes and 

 white faces the prowess of their champions. For 

 minutes they watched the conflict with fear and 

 pride combined. When seven or eight minutes 

 had passed and the champions had not slain all 

 their enemies, some degree of terror arose in the 

 minds of the young ladies, terror lest their 



