round upon the Base Varlet.

"Have at ye, dastardly ruffian!" he cried, and therewith ensued a
battle, fierce and fell.

If his antagonist had it in height, the Imp made up for it in weight
- he is a particularly solid Imp - and thus the struggle lasted for
some five minutes without any appreciable advantage to either, when,
in eluding one of the enemy's desperate rushes, the Imp stumbled,
lost his balance, and next moment I had caught him in my arms. For
a space "the enemy" remained panting on the bank above, and then
with another yell turned and darted off among the bushes.

"Hallo, Imp!" I said.

"Hallo, Uncle Dick!" he returned.

"Hurt?" I inquired.

"Wounded a bit in the nose, you know," he answered, mopping that
organ with his handkerchief; "but did you see me punch 'yon varlet'
in the eye?"

"Did you, Imp?"

"I think so, Uncle Dick; only I do wish I'd made him surrender!"
The book says that Robin Hood always made his enemies 'surrender
an' beg their life on trembling knee!' Oh, it must be fine to see
your enemies on their knee!"