"The green was a level piece of turf close to school, beside a stream, which, at that place, was formed into a deep pool by means of a mill-dam. We had named the pool the black hole. It was the scene of all our school fights. In class that day I was unusually quiet, for I could not help thinking of the impending fight. I felt that it would be a hard one, though I never for a moment doubted the result. To keep my mind off the subject I applied myself to my lessons, and acquitted myself in a way that gratified the master and amazed the boys. "The fight was to come off after school hours. The boys assembled with high expectations, something unusually `stiff' being anticipated, and they were not disappointed. "I was on the ground with my friends and backers before my adversary appeared. "`Don't make too much of a burst at first,' said one boy; `play with him till you see what he's made of.' "`I'd advise you to go in for sloggin',' said another. "`Yes, knock the wind out of him at once,' said Tadpole; `he's an English fellow, you know, and may bother you with science.' "As he spoke Tom appeared. He walked smartly towards me, with his usual pleasant smile on his face, and held out his hand. "`Come, Jacob,' he said, `shake hands, and let us give up this affair. Why should we fight? I am quite willing to admit that you are cock of the school, and have no desire to give or receive black eyes. Besides, you injured me more than I injured you, so that you've no occasion to bear malice.' "`You called me a careless fellow,' said I, hardening myself, and looking fierce. "`Well; but I did not know at the time that you were the owner of the books.' "`No matter, you came here to fight, and so did I. Don't let us waste more words.' "`Truly he suffereth long,' cried one of the boys, with a sneer and a laugh, quoting from the Bible, which, it was well known, Tom Turner read daily. "`I am taught,' said Tom, turning gravely to the last speaker, `as far as lies in me, to live peaceably with all men. I have tried to do this, and find it impossible to live peaceably with Jacob Free--therefore--' "He stopped, pulled off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and threw himself into the pugilistic attitude.