The crowd, with bated breath, stepped out to meet them, Larkins and Bullock leading. It was evident that the two heroes were clinging to Mr. Morgan more for support than from any motives of affection, and it was no less evident that the lad’s remark as to a bit of a scrap was capable of wide interpretation. In a few minutes both parties were face to face, and the two trainers gazing at their charges speechless with indignation. “Which is Gubbs?” demanded Larkins at last, in an unnatural voice. The figure on Morgan’s right arm managed to open an eye and to twist its swollen lips into something intended for a smile. “What ’ave you been doing?” vociferated the incensed landlord. “Fightin’,” said Gubbs, speaking with some difficulty; “it’s all over now. It was a draw, and we’re going to halve the money between us.” “Oh, are you,” said Larkins, bitterly. “Well, you won’t have a damned ha’penny of it. What do you mean by it? Eh?” “I’ll tell you all about it,” said Morgan, who was looking radiantly happy. “I saw Tarbut going up the road and I followed him and talked to him, and by and by up comes Gubbs, and I talked to him. Then I found out what, of course, I knew before, that all you men were trying to induce these poor souls to knock each other about for money.” Mr. Larkins, choking helplessly, looked sternly at Mr. Morgan, and pointed an incriminating finger at Tarbut’s visage. “I urged ’em not to make such a brutal show of themselves for money,” continued Mr. Morgan, “but they said as ’ow they would. Gubbs said it would be the easiest thirty-five shillings he’d ever earned, and Tarbut said it was him as was going to earn it. After a little talk o’ this kind, Gubbs here ’it Tarbut smack in the eye.” Tarbut gave a faint groan in confirmation. “Then they both started to peel,” continued Mr. Morgan. “Why didn’t you stop ’em?” inquired the ex-coastguard; “it was your duty as a Christian to stop ’em.” “I thought it was better for ’em to fight like that than to make a brutal exhibition of themselves,” said Mr. Morgan, with dignity. “It was a revolting spectacle, shocking, and I’m glad and thankful there was nobody there but me to see ’em make such brute beasts of themselves.” A threatening murmur broke from the crowd. “There in that sweet secluded spot,” said Mr. Morgan, shaking his head, “these two men, stripped to the waist, knocked one another about for fifteen rounds. First blood fell to Tarbut, he got in with his left on Gubbs’s nose, then Gubbs up with a fearful blow and knocked him flat. It was as clean a blow as ever I see. I took Tarbut on my knee—poor fellow, he was doing wrong, but still he was suffering, and Peter Morgan’s always got a knee for the sufferer. Second round he was more cautious, and watching ’is opportunity, he clenched and fell with Gubbs underneath. It was a disgusting spectacle.” Mr. Larkins bent savagely over to Mr. Bullock and whispered in his ear. “When time was called”—said Mr. Morgan.