me symptoms of fighting,
endeavouring to close with his foe, but the attempt was vain, for his foe
was not to be closed with; he did not shift or dodge about, but warded
off the blows of his opponent with the greatest sang-froid, always using
the guard which I have already described, and putting in, in return,
short chopping blows with the swiftness of lightning. In a very few
minutes the countenance of the coachman was literally cut to pieces, and
several of his teeth were dislodged; at length he gave in; stung with
mortification, however, he repented, and asked for another round; it was
granted, to his own complete demolition. The coachman did not drive his
coach back that day, he did not appear on the box again for a week; but
he never held up his head afterwards. Before I quitted the inn, he had
disappeared from the road, going no one knew where.

The coachman, as I have said before, was very much disliked upon the
road, but there was an esprit de corps amongst the coachmen, and those
who stood by did not like to see their brother chastised in such
tremendous fashion. "I never saw such a fight before," said one. "Fight!
why, I don't call it a fight at all; this chap here ha'n't got a scratch,
whereas Tom is cut to pieces; it is all along of that guard of his; if
Tom could have got within his guard he would have soon served the old
chap out." "So he would," said another, "it was all owing to that guard.
However, I think I see into it, and if I had not to drive this afternoon,
I would have a turn with the old fellow and soon serve him out." "I will
fight him now for a guinea," said the other coachman, half taking off his
coat; observing, however, that the elderly individual made a motion
towards him, he hitched it upon his shoulder again, and added, "that is,
if he had not been fighting already, but as it is, I am above taking an
advantage, especially of such a poor old creature as that." And when he
had said this, he looked around him, and there was a feeble titter of
approbation from two or three of the craven crew, who were in the habit
of currying favour with the coachmen. The elderly individual looked for
a moment at these last, and then said, "To such fellows as you I have
nothing to say;" then turning to the coachmen, "and as for you," he said,
"ye cowardly bullies, I have but one word, which is, that your reign upon
the roads is nearly over, and that a time is coming when ye will no
longer be wanted or