own face that made a myriad of luminous stars, never indexed in the
galaxy of the heavens, flash before his eyes.

Then Nick was seen to stagger, and fall down. That was perhaps the
first time he had ever taken a dose of his own medicine. How often had
he stood jeeringly over some wretched fellow whom he had sent to grass,
counting him out with monotonous chant, in which the joy of brutal
victory was prominent?

"Get up and try it again!" said a stern voice. "That is only a taste
of what is due you! I hope you have not had enough yet, you cowardly
brute!"

Leon Disney and those two other cronies of Nick's were holding their
breath with dismay. They had never expected to see the time when any
one could knock their boastful leader out in this easy fashion. What
previous opinions they had entertained concerning Hugh Morgan's prowess
must now be reversed.

Stung by this taunt, Nick immediately scrambled to his feet. He seemed
a bit what he himself would have termed "groggy," being familiar with
the slang of the prize ring, but in spite of this he leaped wildly at
his enemy.

Thad Stevens feared for his chum when he saw the fury of this attack;
but he need not have worried. Hugh was able to look out for himself.
Although those boys had never known him to take part in a single
encounter, Hugh had apparently made a study of the art of self-defense.
There can be no harm in knowing _how_ to fight, if one is resolved
never to indulge in the game save as a very last resort. And whatever