OCTOBER 275 



not. He seemed unable. He was, I per- 

 ceived, struggling to regain the bearing 

 which is proper to a gillie and usually 

 an unbreakable habit ; but the influence 

 of this exceptional crisis was too strong. 

 Besides, he had a show of reason for his 

 attitude. " In any turn-up I've been at, 

 Sir, a body was allowed to tak' a side." 



" Silence, bantams ! " said Peter. 

 " When twa elderly gentlemen are 

 fechtin' a' other argument is unseemly. 

 At least, that's the rule in this ring. It 

 has to be observed. Sit doon, baith o' 

 ye, and hold your tongues." 



" Yes, John," said the other pugilist : 

 "sit down. And be easy. We shan't 

 be long." 



"You've a bit up your sleeve, I see," 

 Peter remarked. " Well, so have I. 

 Now then ! " 



Each made a show of being blindly 

 violent ; for a minute or so there was a 

 great ducking and bobbing of heads, and 

 hammering thereof. Then they slowed 

 down, Peter walking round Bismarck, 



