Some people in Trevor's place might have taken the earliest opportunityof confronting Rand-Brown, so as to settle the matter in hand withoutdelay. Trevor thought of doing this, but finally decided to let thematter rest for a day, until he should have found out with someaccuracy what chance he stood.

　　After four o'clock, therefore, on the next day, having had tea in hisstudy, he went across to the baths, in search of O'Hara. He intendedthat before the evening was over the Irishman should have imparted tohim some of his skill with the hands. He did not know that for a manabsolutely unscientific with his fists there is nothing so fatal as totake a boxing lesson on the eve of battle. A little knowledge is adangerous thing. He is apt to lose his recklessness--which might havestood by him well--in exchange for a little quite useless science. Heis neither one thing nor the other, neither a natural fighter nor askilful boxer.

　　This point O'Hara endeavoured to press upon him as soon as he hadexplained why it was that he wanted coaching on this particularafternoon.

　　The Irishman was in the gymnasium, punching the ball, when Trevor foundhim. He generally put in a quarter of an hour with the punching-ballevery evening, before Moriarty turned up for the customary six rounds.

　　"Want me to teach ye a few tricks?" he said. "What's that for?""I've got a mill coming on soon," explained Trevor, trying to make thestatement as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world for aschool prefect, who was also captain of football, head of a house, andin the cricket eleven, to be engaged for a fight in the near future.

　　"Mill!" exclaimed O'Hara. "You! An' why?""Never mind why," said Trevor. "I'll tell you afterwards, perhaps.

　　Shall I put on the gloves now?""Wait," said O'Hara, "I must do my quarter of an hour with the ballbefore I begin teaching other people how to box. Have ye a watch?""Yes.""Then time me. I'll do four rounds of three minutes each, with aminute's rest in between. That's more than I'll do at Aldershot, butit'll get me fit. Ready?""Time," said Trevor.

　　He watched O'Hara assailing the swinging ball with considerable envy.

　　Why, he wondered, had he not gone in for boxing? Everybody ought tolearn to box. It was bound to come in useful some time or other. Takehis own case. He was very much afraid--no, afraid was not the rightword, for he was not that. He was very much of opinion that Rand-Brownwas going to have a most enjoyable time when they met. And the finalhouse-match was to be played next Monday. If events turned out as hecould not help feeling they were likely to turn out, he would be toobattered to play in that match. Donaldson's would probably win whetherhe played or not, but it would be bitter to be laid up on such anoccasion. On the other hand, he must go through with it. He did notbelieve in letting other people take a hand in settling his privatequarrels.

　　But he wished he had learned to box. If only he could hit that dancing,jumping ball with a fifth of the skill that O'Hara was displaying, hiswiriness and pluck might see him through. O'Hara finished his fourthround with his leathern opponent, and sat down, panting.

　　"Pretty useful, that," commented Trevor, admiringly.

　　"Ye should see Moriarty," gasped O'Hara.

　　"Now, will ye tell me why it is you're going to fight, and with whomyou're going to fight?""Very well. It's with Rand-Brown.""Rand-Brown!" exclaimed O'Hara. "But, me dearr man, he'll ate you."Trevor gave a rather annoyed laugh. "I must say I've got a nice,cheery, comforting lot of friends," he said. "That's just what Cloweshas been trying to explain to me.""Clowes is quite right," said O'Hara, seriously. "Has the thing gonetoo far for ye to back out? Without climbing down, of course," headded.

　　"Yes," said Trevor, "there's no question of my getting out of it. Idaresay I could. In fact, I know I could. But I'm not going to.""But, me dearr man, ye haven't an earthly chance. I assure ye yehaven't. I've seen Rand-Brown with the gloves on. That was last term.

　　He's not put them on since Moriarty bate him in the middles, so he maybe out of practice. But even then he'd be a bad man to tackle. He's bi............