“Oh!” said the Doctor. “Then Singh has been in it too?”
“Yes, sir; Singh came at him like a lion, and said he was a coward and a cur, and that they’d never be friends again. But Severn did not speak a word, and before we knew what was going to happen next, Slegge took hold of Singh’s ear and asked him what it had to do with him, and he called him a nigger and an impudent foreign brat; and almost before we knew where we were, Singh hit Slegge quick as lightning, one-two right in the face, and then stepped back and began to take off his jacket; but before he could pull it off, Slegge got at him; and the boys hissed, sir, for while Singh’s hands were all in a tangle like in the sleeves, Slegge hit him three or four times in the face; but it only made him fierce, and getting rid of his jacket, he went at big Slegge.”
“Ah!” ejaculated the Doctor. “Go on, Mr Burney.”
“Slegge made a dash at him, sir; but Singh was too quick, and stepped on one side; and when Slegge turned upon him again Severn sprang in between them, snatched off his jacket, and crammed it into Singh’s hands. And then all the boys began to hooray.”
“What for?” said the Doctor.
“Because Severn said, sir, out loud, ‘Not such a coward as you think, Singhy. I must fight now.’”
“Bad—very bad,” said the Doctor; “cowardly too—two boys to one.”
“Oh no, sir; Singh didn’t do any more. He only laughed, threw down the jacket, and began slapping Severn on the back; and he seconded him, sir, quite fair and square all through, just as if he knew all about fighting, though he is a nig— Indian, sir. And there was a tremendous fight, till, after being a good deal knocked about, Severn was getting it all his own way, and finished off Slegge just as you came up, sir. And that’s the whole truth.—Isn’t it, boys?”
There was a chorus of the word “Yes,” and the Doctor drew a deep breath as it came to an end. Then he uttered the interjection “Hah!” looked very searchingly at Slegge, scanning the injuries he had received, and afterwards made the same keen examination of Severn.
“Disgraceful!” he said at last, shaking his head and frowning. “Young gentlemen, you will resume your studies at once.—Mr Rampson, will you see that these two injured lads go to their dormitory directly. Mrs Hamton will attend to their injuries and report to me whether it is necessary for the surgeon to be called in.—You hear me, boys?” shouted the Doctor. “Disperse at once. There will be a lecture in the theatre in ten minutes’ time.—Mr Rampson, there is to be no communication between these two principals and the rest.—You, Burney, and you, Singh, go on to my library.”