into desperate resistance, along with
it; whilst the hard pebbles under their feet were crumbled into powder,
and the very street itself furrowed into gravel by the shock of their
opposing strength. Indeed, so well matched a pair never met in contest:
their strength, their wind, their activity, and their! natural science
appeared to be perfectly equal.

"At length, by a tremendous effort, Kelly got the staff twisted
nearly out of Grimes's hand, and a short shout, half encouraging, half
indignant, came from Grimes's party. This added shame to his other
passions, and threw an impulse of almost superhuman strength into him:
he recovered his advantage, but nothing more; they twisted--they heaved
their great frames against each other--they struggled--their action
became rapid--they swayed each other this way and that--their eyes like
fire--their teeth locked, and their nostrils dilated. Sometimes they
twined about each other like serpents, and twirled round with such
rapidity, that it was impossible to distinguish them--sometimes, when
a pull of more than ordinary power took place, they seemed to cling
together almost without motion, bending down until their heads nearly
touched the ground, their cracking joints seeming to stretch by the
effort, and the muscles of their limbs standing out from the flesh,
strung into amazing tension.

"In this attitude were they, when Denis, with the eye of a hawk, spied
a disadvantage in Grimes's position; he wheeled round, placed his broad
shoulder against the shaggy breast of the other, and giving him what is
called an 'inside crook,' strained him, despite of every effort, until
he got him off his shoulder, and off the point of resistance. There
was a cry of alarm from the windows, particularly from the females, as
Grimes's huge body was swung over Kelly's shoulder, until it came down
in a crash upon the hard gravel of the street, while Denis stood in
triumph, with his enemy's staff in his hand. A loud huzzah followed this
from all present except the Orangemen, who stood bristling with fury and
shame for the temporary defeat of their champion.

"Denis again had his enemy at his mercy; but he scorned to use his
advantage ungenerously; he went over, and placing the staff in his
hands--for the other had got to his legs--retrograded to his place, and
desired Grimes to defend himself.

"After considerable manoeuvring on both sides, Denis, who appeared to
be the more active of the two, got