g a most merciless advantage, by
keeping her down upon the floor, when a Scotch sailor, wishing, we
suppose, to see a stand-up affair, unloosed her hold, and let the
other escape. But Sawney had, at this time at least reckoned without
his host; he had been wise, he had left the devil alone; for, loosing
her vengeance, she turned all her remaining rage upon the northern,
and soon made something trickle down his cheeks, of more consequence
than tears.

The man never retaliated, but he was not without his friend. The woman
who officiated as his wife--down with the child she had in her
arms--flung off her shawl, and going up to the jade who had tickled
her _gude mon_, poured forth a torrent of strong round words.

"Do you think," she said, "that he has nobody to take his part, that
you strike as if you were not to be struck again? No, no!" she added,
"he is no man who will strike a woman except she be his own wife; but
here, you ---- ----, I am your," &c., &c.

"Honour among thieves!" thought we, and here's fair play among
cadgers. The other, who, to use the phrase of the ring, was blood to
the back bone, and in a most excellent humour to accept a challenge,
was not very slow in putting herself in order for what is termed a
regular.

Ben tried again for peace, but it was no use. The master was gone to
the house in the Broadway, and the inmates here were wild. No nails,
or tugging of hair, was brought into this action, but everything
settled in the true old English style of disputing.

These paragons of the tender sex then threw themselves into attitudes
that would have done honour to a Mendoza; but Sawney's wife, who was a
real Lady Barrymore hussey, proved the master at arms. Tall and bony,
she slashed her opponent at arm's length, with the cutting force of a
Curtis and presently ended her share of the fray.

The Welshman, after having seen his battered spouse taken care of,
returned and going up to the Scotchman, very gravely said,

"Joe, I believe there is something between you and me. You were always
a good 'un, but I cannot allow any man to meddle with my wife."

"Say no more," said the _canny_ Scot; "it's all right. No man ever
heard me say, nay."

"No never!" shouted the most of the company. "You were always a
trump!"

"Well then," says Taffy, "let's have this turn over, and we'll be
friends yet."

And with this kind of chivalrous feeling, did these two honourable
blackguards prepare to maul each other