protection of the law which he would abolish. The rest of us,
having less to fear, were suffered to leak into Newmilns Street. I
found myself next to Gresson, and took his arm. There was
something hard in his coat pocket.

Unfortunately there was a big lamp at the point where we
emerged, and there for our confusion were the Fusilier jocks. Both
were strung to fighting pitch, and were determined to have
someone's blood. Of me they took no notice, but Gresson had
spoken after their ire had been roused, and was marked out as a
victim. With a howl of joy they rushed for him.

I felt his hand steal to his side-pocket. 'Let that alone, you fool,'
I growled in his ear.

'Sure, mister,' he said, and the next second we were in the thick
of it.

It was like so many street fights I have seen - an immense crowd
which surged up around us, and yet left a clear ring. Gresson and I
got against the wall on the side-walk, and faced the furious soldiery.
My intention was to do as little as possible, but the first minute
convinced me that my companion had no idea how to use his fists,
and I was mortally afraid that he would get busy with the gun in
his pocket. It was that fear that brought me into the scrap. The
jocks were sportsmen every bit of them, and only one advanced to
the combat. He hit Gresson a clip on the jaw with his left, and but
for the wall would have laid him out. I saw in the lamplight the
vicious gleam in the American's eye and the twitch of his hand to
his pocket. That decided me to interfere and I got in front of him.