leman in the blue cloak," and
"slightly beckoning with his hand to the two friends, they follow him
for a little distance," and after climbing a paling and scaling a hedge,
enter a secluded field.

Dr. Slammer is already there with his friend Dr. Payne,--Dr. Payne of
the 43rd, "the man with the camp-stool."

The arrangements proceed, when suddenly a check is experienced.

"'What's all this?' said Dr. Slammer, as his
friend and Mr. Snodgrass came running up.--'That's
not the man.'

"'Not the man!' said Dr. Slammer's second.

"'Not the man!' said Mr. Snodgrass.

"'Not the man!' said the gentleman with the
camp-stool in his hand.

"'Certainly not,' replied the little doctor.
'That's not the person who insulted me last
night.'

"'Very extraordinary!' exclaimed the officer.

"'Very,' said the gentleman with the camp-stool."

Mutual explanations follow, and, notwithstanding the temporary
dissatisfaction of Dr. Payne, Mr. Winkle comes out like a trump--defends
the honour of the Pickwick Club and its uniform, and wins the admiration
of Dr. Slammer.

"'My dear sir,' said the good-humoured little
doctor, advancing with extended hand, 'I honour
your gallantry. Permit me to say, Sir, that I
highly admire your conduct, and extremely regret
having caused you the inconvenience of this
meeting, to no purpose.'

"'I beg you won't mention it, Sir,' said Mr.
Winkle.

"'I shall feel proud of your acquaintance, Sir,'
said the little doctor.

"'It will afford me the greatest pleasure to know
you, Sir,' replied Mr. Winkle.

"Thereupon the doctor and Mr. Winkle shook hands,
and then Mr. Winkle and Lieutenant Tappleton (the
doctor's second), and then Mr. Winkle and the man
with the camp-stool, and finally Mr. Winkle and
Mr. Snodgrass: the last-named gentleman in an
excess of admiration at the noble conduct of his
heroic friend.

"'I think we may adjourn,' said Lieutenant
Tappleton.

"'Certainly,' added the doctor."

We ourselves also adjourn, taking with us many pleasant memories of
Chatham and Fort Pitt, and of the period relating to "the childhood and
youth of Charles Dickens."