During the walk from the bathing-place Allan was very silent, and all tea-time he watched Reggie and Harry thoughtfully, and was evidently revolving something in his mind. After tea he took an opportunity of saying to Marjorie, 'Now, Marjorie, remember that we've got to make the _Kelpie_ late.' 'I'll try to get lost,' said Marjorie. 'I hope they won't go off without me though. You'd better lose yourself too, with one or two of the others; and they'll notice if so many are absent.' 'I'll do my best,' said Allan. 'I think we'll manage to keep them back an hour or so. You might come this way, Reggie, will you?' Allan walked for some distance in silence, and Reggie began to wonder what was coming. 'Reggie,' began Allan, rather absently, 'have you been thinking that you're going to school next term?' 'Yes,' answered Reggie, wondering what this was going to lead to. 'Well,' resumed Allan, 'you'll need to have some fights, you know, almost as soon as you get there.' 'I suppose so,' said Reggie. 'I mean,' said Allan, 'even supposing that no one challenges you, you'll have to fight some of the fellows at the very commencement, don't you see, just to show that you're not the sort to be put upon.' Reggie listened attentively, but said nothing. 'You haven't had much opportunity of practising yet, of course, and it won't do, if you want to make a position for yourself in the school, just to begin upon some of the new fellows, kids of your own size or a little bigger; any one can do that. What you want is to challenge some of the older fellows at the very beginning, and then, no one will try humbugging you, as they do with the new fellows.' Reggie looked doubtful. The idea of making a position for himself was tempting, but if it was only to be carried into effect by fighting bigger boys he felt that the result might be failure. 'What you want is practice,' resumed Allan. 'Now it's no use your trying to fight me--I'm much too big and strong for you; nor Hamish, for he's far too good-natured and would never hit out at you enough; so it's awfully lucky we've got Harry here just now--he's just the very fellow.' Reggie looked up in perplexity. 'But how can I fight Harry?' he said; 'I've never quarrelled with him.' 'You young duffer,' said Allan, 'you don't need to fight about anything in particular. It's only for practice. Then we've got to make the yacht late, you know, and this is no end of a good opportunity, as we can't be expected to stay where the grown-ups are likely to find us when we've got a fight on hand. Here's a nice quiet place, just behind these rocks, and there's Harry wading in that pool; you can just fight him at once, or I'll punch both your heads for you. Hullo, Harry! Come along! Reggie wants to fight you. Now, go it, you two, and I'll be umpire;' and before the younger boys knew what they were about they were sparring at each other like a couple of angry cocks.