THE RIOT 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 
