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t Peter Tounley had hit the large man on the jaw in such a swift and skilful manner that the large man had gone spinning through a group of his countrymen to the hard earth； where he lay holding his face together and howling。 Instantly； of course； there had been a riot。 It might well be said that even then the affair could have ended in a lot of talking； but in the first place the students did not talk modern Greek； and in the second place they were now past all thought of talking。 They regarded this affair seriously as a fight； and now that they at last were in it； they were in it for every pint of blood in their bodies。 Such a pack of famished wolves had never before been let loose upon men armed with Gras rifles。
They all had been expecting the row； and when Peter Tounley had found it expedient to knock over the man； they had counted it a signal： their arms immediately begun to swing out as if they had been wound up。 It was at this time that Coleman swam brutally through the Greeks and joined his countrymen。 He was more frightened than any of those novices。 When he saw Peter Tounley overthrow a dreadful looking brigand whose belt was full of knives； and who …crashed to the ground amid a clang of cartridges； he was appalled by the utter simplicity with which the lads were treating the crisis。 It was to them no com… mon scrimmage at Washurst； of course； but it flashed through Coleman's mind that they had not the slightegt sense of the size of the thing。 He expected every instant to see the flash of knives or to hear the deafening intonation of a rifle fired against hst ear。 It seemed to him miraculous that the tragedy was so long delayed。
In the meantirne he was in the affray。 He jilted one man under the chin with his elbow in a way that reeled him off from Peter Tounley's back； a little person in thecked clothes he smote between the eyes； he recieved a gun…butt emphatically on the aide of the neck； he felt hands tearing at him； he kicked the pins out from under three men in rapid succession。 He was always yelling。 〃 Try to get to the inn； boys； try to get to the inn。 Look out； Peter。 Take care for his knife； Peter〃 Suddenly he whipped a rifle out of the hands of a man and swung it； whistling。 He had gone stark mad with the others。
The boy Billy； drunk from some blows and bleeding； was already。 staggering toward the inn over the clearage which the wild Coleman made with the clubbed rifle。 Tho others follewed as well as they might while beating off a discouraged enemy。 The remarkable innkeeper had barred his windows with strong wood shutters。 He held the door by the crack for them； and they stumbled one by on through the portal。 Coleman did not know why they were not all dead； nor did he understand the intrepid and generous behaviour of the innkeeper； but at any rate he felt that the fighting was suspended； and he wanted to see Marjory。 The innkeeper was； doing a great pantomime in the middle of the darkened room； pointing to the outer door and then aiming his rifle at it to explain his intention of defending them at all costs。 Some of the students moved to a billiard table and spread them… selves wearily upon it。 Others sank down where they stood。 Outside the crowd was beginning to roar。 Coleman's groom crept out from under the little Coffee bar and comically saluted his master。 The dragoman was not present。 Coleman felt that he must see Marjory； and he made signs to the innkeeper。 The latter understood quickly； and motioned that Coleman should follow him。 They passed together through a dark hall and up a darker stairway； where after Coleman stepped out into a sun…lit room； saying loudly： 〃Oh； it's all right。 It's all over。 Don't worry。〃
Three wild people were instantly upon him。 〃 Oh； what was it？ What did happen？ Is anybody hurt？ Oh； tell us； quick！〃 It seemed at the time that it was an avalanche of three of them； and it was not until later that he recognised that Mrs。 Wainwright had tumbled the largest number of questions upon him。 As for Marjory； she had said nothing until the time when she cried： 〃 Oh…he is bleeding…he is bleeding。 Oh； come； quick！〃 She fairly dragged him out of one room into another room； where there was a jug of water。 She wet her handkerchief and softly smote his wounds。 〃Bruises；〃 she said； piteously； tearfully。 〃 Bruises。 Oh； dear！ How they must hurt you。' The handkerchief was soon stained crimson。
When Coleman spoke his voice quavered。 〃 It isn't anything。 Really； it isn't anything。〃 He had not known of these wonderful wounds； but he almost choked in the joy of Marjory's ministry and her half coherent exclamations。 This proud and beautiful girl； this superlative creature； was reddening her handkerchief with his blood； and no word of his could have prevented her from thus attending him。 He could hear the professor and Mrs。 Wainwright fussing near him； trying to be of use。 He would have liked to have been able to order them out of the room。 Marjory's cool fingers on his face and neck had conjured within him a vision at an intimacy tnat was even sweeter than anything which he had imagined； and he longed to pour out to her the bubbling； impassioned speech which came to his lips。 But； always doddering behind him； were the two old people； strenuous to be of help to him。
Suddenly a door opened and a youth appeared； simply red with blood。 It was Peter Tounley。 His first remark was cheerful。 〃Well； I don't suppose those people will be any too quick to look for more trouble。〃
Coleman felt a swift pang because he had forgotten to announce the dilapidated state of all the students。 He had been so submerged by Marjory's tenderness that all else had been drowned from his mind。 His heart beat quickly as he waited for Marjory to leave him and rush to Peter Tounley。
But she did nothing of the sort。 〃 Oh； Peter；〃 she cried in distress； and then she turned back to Coleman。 It was the professor and Mrs。 Wainwright who； at last finding a field for their kindly ambitions； flung them。 selves upon Tounley and carried him off to another place。 Peter was removed； crying： 〃 Oh； now； look
here； professor； I'm not dying or anything of the sort Coleman and Marjory were left alone。 He suddenly and forcibly took one of her hands and the blood stained hankerchief dropped to the floor。
CHAPTER XXII。
From below they could hear the thunder of weapons and fits upon the door of the inn amid a great clamour of。 tongues。 Sometimes there arose the argumtntative howl of the innkeeper。 Above this roar； Coleman's quick words sounded in Marjory's ear。
〃 I've got to go。 I've got to go back to the boys； but …I love you。〃
〃 Yes go； go；〃 she whispered hastily。 〃 You should be there； but…come back。〃
He held her close to him。 〃 But you are mine； remember；〃 he said fiercely and sternly。 〃 You are mine…forever…As I am yours…remember。〃 Her eyes half closed。 She made intensely solemn answer。 〃Yes。〃 He released her and vphs gone。 In the glooming coffee room of the inn he found the students； the dragoman； the groom and the innkeeper armed with a motley collection of weapons which ranged from the rifle of the innkeeper to the table leg in the hands of PeterTounley。 The last named young student of