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him naught to honor me； and here am I fallen to be a teacher of boys。 Go
to！ thou art a fool。〃
Then； after a little pause of brooding silence； he went on to say that the
Earl was no better or worse than the rest of the world。 That men of his
position had many jealous enemies； ever seeking their ruin； and that such
must look first of all each to himself； or else be certainly ruined； and drag
down others in that ruin。 Myles was silenced； but the bitterness had
entered his heart； and abided with him for many a day afterwards。
Perhaps Sir James read his feelings in his frank face； for he sat looking
curiously at him； twirling his grizzled mustache the while。 〃Thou art like
to have hard knocks of it； lad； ere thou hast gotten thee safe through the
world；〃 said he； with more kindness in his harsh voice than was usual。
〃But get thee not into fights before thy time。〃 Then he charged the boy
very seriously to live at peace with his fellow…squires； and for his father's
sake as well as his own to enter into none of the broils that were so
frequent in their quarters。
It was with this special admonition against brawling that Myles was
dismissed； to enter； before five minutes had passed； into the first really
great fight of his life。
Besides Gascoyne and Wilkes； he found gathered in the dormitory six
or eight of the company of squires who were to serve that day upon
household duty； among others； Walter Blunt and three other bachelors；
who were changing their coarse service clothes for others more fit for the
household。
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〃Why didst thou tarry so long； Myles？〃 said Gascoyne； as he entered。
〃Methought thou wert never coming。〃
〃Where goest thou； Falworth？〃 called Blunt from the other end of the
room； where he was lacing his doublet。
Just now Myles had no heart in the swimming or sport of any sort； but
he answered； shortly； 〃I go to the river to swim。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Blunt； 〃thou goest not forth from the castle to…day。 Hast
thou forgot how thou didst answer me back about fetching the water this
morning？ This day thou must do penance； so go thou straight to the
armory and scour thou up my breastplate。〃
From the time he had arisen that morning everything had gone wrong
with Myles。 He had felt himself already outrated in rendering service to
the bachelors； he had quarrelled with the head of the esquires； he had
nearly quarrelled with Gascoyne； and then had come the bitterest and
worst of all； the knowledge that his father was an outlaw； and that the Earl
would not stretch out a hand to aid him or to give him any countenance。
Blunt's words brought the last bitter cut to his heart； and they stung him to
fury。 For a while he could not answer； but stood glaring with a face fairly
convulsed with passion at the young man； who continued his toilet；
unconscious of the wrath of the new recruit。
Gascoyne and Wilkes； accepting Myles's punishment as a thing of
course； were about to leave the dormitory when Myles checked them。
〃Stop； Francis！〃 he cried； hoarsely。 〃Thinkest thou that I will stay behind
to do yon dog's dirty work？ No； I go with ye。〃
A moment or two of dumb； silent amazement followed his bold words；
then Blunt cried； 〃Art thou mad？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered Myles in the same hoarse voice； 〃I am not mad。 I tell
thee a better man than thou shouldst not stay me from going an I list to go。
〃I will break thy cockerel head for that speech；〃 said Blunt； furiously。
He stooped as he spoke； and picked up a heavy clog that lay at his feet。
It was no insignificant weapon either。 The shoes of those days were
sometimes made of cloth； and had long pointed toes stuffed with tow or
wool。 In muddy weather thick heavy clogs or wooden soles were strapped；
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like a skate； to the bottom of the foot。 That clog which Blunt had seized
was perhaps eighteen or twenty inches long； two or two and a half inches
thick at the heel； tapering to a point at the toe。 As the older lad advanced；
Gascoyne stepped between him and his victim。
〃Do not harm him； Blunt；〃 he pleaded。 〃Bear thou in mind how new…
come he is among us。 He knoweth not our ways as yet。〃
〃Stand thou back； Gascoyne；〃 said Blunt； harshly； as he thrust him
aside。 〃I will teach him our ways so that he will not soon forget them。〃
Close to Myles's feet was another clog like that one which Blunt held。
He snatched it up； and set his back against the wall； with a white face and
a heart beating heavily and tumultuously； but with courage steeled to meet
the coming encounter。 There was a hard； grim look in his blue eyes that；
for a moment perhaps； quelled the elder lad。 He hesitated。 〃Tom！ Wat！
Ned！〃 he called to the other bachelors； 〃come hither； and lend me a hand
with this knave。〃
〃An ye come nigh me；〃 panted Myles； 〃I will brain the first within
reach。〃
Then Gascoyne dodged behind the others； and； without being seen；
slipped out of the room for help。
The battle that followed was quick； sharp； and short。 As Blunt strode
forward； Myles struck； and struck with might and main； but he was too
excited to deliver his blow with calculation。 Blunt parried it with the clog
he held； and the next instant； dropping his weapon； gripped Myles tight
about the body； pinning his arms to his sides。
Myles also dropped the clog he held； and； wrenching out his right arm
with a sudden heave； struck Blunt full in the face； and then with another
blow sent him staggering back。 It all passed in an instant； the next the
three other bachelors were upon him； catching him by the body； the arms；
the legs。 For a moment or two they swayed and stumbled hither and thither；
and then down they fell in a struggling heap。
Myles fought like a wild…cat； kicking； struggling； scratching； striking
with elbows and fists。 He caught one of the three by his collar； and tore his
jacket open from the neck to the waist； he drove his foot into the pit of the
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stomach of another； and knocked him breathless。 The oth