It was only a momentary glance, and then he was fighting desperately, for the second boy seemed to be maddened by the fate of the first. Casting off all feinting now, he dashed furiously at Vane, giving and receiving blows till the lads closed in a fierce wrestling match, in which Vane’s superior strength told, and in another moment or two, he would have thrown his adversary, had not the lad lying unconscious on the dead leaves, lent his brother unexpected aid. For he was right in Vane’s way, so that he tripped over him, fell heavily with the second gipsy lad upon his chest, holding him down with his knees and one hand in his collar, while he raised the other, and was about to strike him heavily in the face, when there was a dull sound and he fell over upon his brother, leaving Vane free.
“Thankye, Dis,” he panted, as he struggled to his knees; “that crack of yours was just in time,” and the rector’s two pupils looked each other in the face.
It was only for a moment, though, and then Vane seated himself to recover breath on the uppermost of his fallen foes.
Chapter Thirty Two.
Having it out.
“Now,” said Vane, after sitting, panting for a few minutes, “I came out to-day on purpose to find you, and ask you to shake hands. Glad I got here in time to help you. Shake hands, now.”
“No,” said Distin, slowly; “I can’t do that.”
“Nonsense! I say these two have got it. Why not?”