sville,' said I, 'he beat himself. Had
he not struck his hand against a tree, I shouldn't be here at the present
moment.' 'Hear, hear!' said the landlord, 'now that's just as it should
be; I like a modest man, for, as the parson says, nothing sits better
upon a young man than modesty. I remember, when I was young, fighting
with Tom of Hopton, the best man that ever pulled off coat in England. I
remember, too, that I won the battle; for I happened to hit Tom of Hopton
in the mark, as he was coming in, so that he lost his wind, and falling
squelch on the ground, do ye see, he lost the battle, though I am free to
confess that he was a better man than myself; indeed, the best man that
ever fought in England; yet still, I won the battle, as every customer of
mine, and everybody within twelve miles round, has heard over and over
again. Now, Mr. Hunter, I have one thing to say, if you choose to go
into the field behind the house, and fight the young man, you can. I'll
back him for ten pounds; but no fighting in my kitchen--because why? I
keeps a decent kind of an establishment.'

'I have no wish to fight the young man,' said Hunter; 'more especially as
he has nothing to say for the aristocracy. If he chose to fight for
them, indeed--but he won't, I know; for I see he's a decent, respectable
young man; and, after all, fighting is a blackguard way of settling a
dispute; so I have no wish to fight; however, there is one thing I'll
do,' said he, uplifting his fist, 'I'll fight this fellow in black here
for half a crown, or for nothing, if he pleases; it was he that got up
the last dispute between me and the young man, with his Pope and his
nonsense; so I will fight him for anything he pleases, and perhaps the
young man will be my second; whilst you--'

'Come, Doctor,' said the landlord, 'or whatsoever you be, will you go
into the field with Hunter? I'll second you, only you must back
yourself. I'll lay five pounds on Hunter, if you are inclined to back
yourself; and will help you to win it as far, do you see, as a second
can; because why? I always likes to do the fair thing.'

'Oh, I have no wish to fight,' said the man in black, hastily; 'fighting
is not my trade. If I have given any offence, I beg anybody's pardon.'

'Landlord,' said I, 'what have I to pay?

'Nothing at all,' said the landlord; 'glad to see you. This is the first
time that you have been at my house, and I never charge new customers, at
least cus