s a chance for one of those wayside
boxing adventures which were so common in the olden times. It was my
intention that I should fight the man, and that the maiden from the
dingle standing by me should tell me when to use my right or my left, as
the case might be, picking me up also in case I should be so unfortunate
as to be knocked down by the man with the iron-shod boots and the small
mole of a reddish colour over his left eyebrow.

"Do you use Long Melford?" I asked.

He looked at me in some surprise, and said that any mixture was good
enough for him.

"By Long Melford," said I, "I do not mean, as you seem to think, some
form of tobacco, but I mean that art and science of boxing which was held
in such high esteem by our ancestors, that some famous professors of it,
such as the great Gully, have been elected to the highest offices of the
State. There were men of the highest character amongst the bruisers of
England, of whom I would particularly mention Tom of Hereford, better
known as Tom Spring, though his father's name, as I have been given to
understand, was Winter. This, however, has nothing to do with the matter
in hand, which is that you must fight me."

The man with the florid face seemed very much surprised at my words, so
that I cannot think that adventures of this sort were as common as I had
been led by the master to expect.

"Fight!" said he. "What about?"

"It is a good old English custom," said I, "by which we may determine
which is the better man."

"I've nothing against you," said he.

"Nor I against you," I answered. "So that we will fight for love, which
was an expression much used in olden days. It is narrated by Harold
Sygvynson that among the Danes it was usual to do so even with battle-
axes, as is told in his second set of runes. Therefore you will take off
your coat and fight." As I spoke, I stripped off my own.

The man's face was less florid than before. "I'm not going to fight,"
said he.

"Indeed you are," I answered, "and this young woman will doubtless do you
the service to hold your coat."

"You're clean balmy," said Henrietta.

"Besides," said I, "if you will not fight me for love, perhaps you will
fight me for this," and I held out a sovereign. "Will you hold his
coat?" I said to Henrietta.

"I'll hold the thick 'un," said she.

"No, you don't," said the man, and put the sovereign into the pocket of
his trousers, which were of a corduroy material. "Now," sa