Part 28 (1/2)

'Yes,' answered Reggie, wondering what this was going to lead to

'Well,' resuhts, you know, algie

'I es you, you'll have to fight some of the fellows at the very commencement, don't you see, just to show that you're not the sort to be put upon'

Reggie listened attentively, but said nothing

'You haven't hadyet, of course, and it won't do, if you want to in upon soer; any one can do that What you want is to challenge so, and then, no one will try huie looked doubtful The idea of , but if it was only to be carried into effect by fighting bigger boys he felt that the result ht be failure

'What you want is practice,' resuhtfor you; nor Haood-natured and would never hit out at you enough; so it's awfully lucky we've got Harry here just now--he's just the very fellow'

Reggie looked up in perplexity

'But how can I fight Harry?' he said; 'I've never quarrelled with hi duffer,' said Allan, 'you don't need to fight about anything in particular It's only for practice Then we've got to ood opportunity, as we can't be expected to stay where the grown-ups are likely to find us e've got a fight on hand Here's a nice quiet place, just behind these rocks, and there's Harry wading in that pool; you can just fight him at once, or I'll punch both your heads for you Hullo, Harry!

Coo it, you two, and I'll be uer boys knehat they were about they were sparring at each other like a couple of angry cocks

'Straight, Reggie, you young duffer,' said Allan, settling hiive professional advice 'Give it to him from the shoulder'

'I say, what's the row?' asked Ha down to the scene; 'so these two have coerheads, have they?'

'Not they,' replied Allan carelessly; 'it's only practice'

Marjorie's curly head rose above a rock behind which she had been lying _perdu_; and when she saas going on she jumped up and scrambled to the other side

'Whatever is the matter?' she cried 'Can't you ht,' replied Allan; 'don't call out, Marjorie; you'll distract their attention'

Reggie, unused to fighting, soon began to have the worst of it, but he struggled manfully until a well-planted blow froh for a beginning,' said Allan 'You've done not so badly, Reggie, for the first tiht by practice'

'But what did he go at me for?' cried Harry, with a blank expression of countenance 'I didn't do anything to him'

'nobody said you did, you duffer,' replied Allan; 'Reggie only wants to be able to fight the fellows at school; and you and he can have a go at each other every day if you like'

'Dear roup with a concerned face; 'I a Pray, what has been the subject of dispute?'

'It's nothing,' said Allan, 'only practice There's no quarrel at all'

'What's this? what's this?' broke in the so voice of the Sheriff, who had followed Mr Matthews, unobserved by the young people; 'it see to blows'