hrieks of
delight, we were pushed, almost locked in each other's arms on to that
big pedestal of which I have spoken. "Go it, little 'un!" "Give him
beans!" yelled the mob, who had lost all sight of the origin of the
fray, and could only see that my opponent was two inches the shorter
man. So there, my dear Bertie, was I, within a few hours of my entrance
into this town, with my top-hat down to my ears, my highly professional
frock-coat, and my kid gloves, fighting some low bruiser on a pedestal
in one of the most public places, in the heart of a yelling and hostile
mob! I ask you whether that was cruel luck or not?

Cullingworth told me before I started that Birchespool was a lively
place. For the next few minutes it struck me as the liveliest I had ever
seen. The fellow was a round hand hitter, but so strong that he needed
watching. A round blow is, as you know, more dangerous than a straight
one if it gets home; for the angle of the jaw, the ear, and the
temple, are the three weakest points which you present. However, I took
particular care that my man did not get home; but, on the other hand, I
fear that I did not do him much harm either. He bored in with his
head down; and I, like a fool, broke my knuckles over the top of his
impenetrable skull. Of course, theoretically I should either have
stepped back and tried an undercut, or else taken him into chancery; but
I must confess to feeling flurried and rattled from the blow I had
had, as well as from the suddenness of the whole affair. However, I was
cooling down, and I daresay should in time have done something rational,
when the affray came to a sudden and unexpected end.

This was from the impatience and excitement of the crowd. The folk
behind, wishing to see all that was going on, pushed against those in
front, until half-a-dozen of the foremost (with, I think, a woman among
them) were flung right up against us. One of these, a rough, sailor-like
fellow in a jersey, got wedged between us; and my antagonist, in his
blind rage, got one of his swinging blows home upon this new-comer's
ear. "What, you----!" yelled the sailor; and in an instant he had taken
over the whole contract, and was at it hammer and tongs with my beauty.
I grabbed my stick, which had fallen among the crowd, and backed my way
out, rather dishevelled, but very glad to get off so cheaply. From the
shouting which I could hear some time after I reached the door of my
lodgings, I gathered that a go