bade him spread wide his arms and legs and breathe deeply "for all he
was worth, with his eyes closed and his thoughts fixed on jolly
things".

Feeling himself the cynosure of neighbouring eyes and able to hear
the comments of the crowd, the last part of his second's instructions
was a little difficult of strict observation. However, he continued to
think of licking Harberth--the "jolliest" thing he could conceive,
until his mind wandered home to Lucille, and he enhanced the imaginary
jollity by conceiving her present.... "Sturdy little brute," observed
a big Fifth Form boy seated with a couple of friends on the bench
beside him, "but I'd lay two to one in sovs. (if I had 'em) that he
doesn't last a single round with Harberth".

"Disgrace to Harberth if he doesn't eat the kid alive," responded the
other.

"Got a good jaw and mouth, though," said the third. "Going to die
hard, you'll see. Good little kid."

"Fancy funking a bottled frog or something and fighting a chap who can
give him about four years, four inches, and four stone," observed the
first speaker.

"Yes. Queer little beast. He knocked Harberth clean out, they say.
Perhaps his father has had him properly taught and he can really box.
Ever seen him play footer? Nippiest little devil _I_ ever saw. Staunch
too. Rum go," commented his friend.

Dam thought of Sergeant Havlan and his son, the punching-ball, and the