ckets had scored exactly nothing in the first innings. But
Mr. Francis could bat, and he stayed while Mr. Hill made 12, when he was
l. b. w. to Ward, for a single. Four runs to get, and three wickets to
fall! 'Mr. Charles Marsham's face wore a look that his friends know
well.' Mr. Butler came in; he scored well in the first innings, and he
could hit. Then came a bye. Four to get and three wickets to fall. Mr.
Hill hit the next square, good for a 4, but Mr. Bourne got at it, and
only a single was run. Three to get and three wickets to fall. _We did
not get them!_ Mr. Cobden, who had not done much, took the ball. Mr.
Hill made a single to cover point. The next ball, to Mr. Butler, was
well up on the off stump. Mr. Butler drove at it, Mr. Bourne caught it,
and Mr. Belcher walked in, 'rather pale,' says Mr. Lyttelton, and if so,
it was unusual. Mr. Belcher was of a ruddy countenance. He was yorked!
he took a yorker for a half volley. Let us pity Mr. Stewart. If he could
escape that one ball, the odds were that Mr. Hill would make the runs
next over. Mr. Pauncefote had told Mr. Stewart to keep his bat immovable
in the block-hole, but--he did not. Cobden scattered his bails to the
breezes, 'and smash went Mr. Charles Marsham's umbrella against the
pavilion brickwork.' Cambridge had won by two.

This is called Cobden's year, and will be so called while cricket is
played. But, in fact, Mr. Ward had taken six wickets for 29, and these
were all the best bats.

[Illustration: THE BALL HIT THE MIDDLE STUMP]

Mr. Butler's revenge came next year. He took fifteen wickets, and made
the winning hit. Oxford's revenge came in 1875. In 1874 Cambridge was
terribly beaten. They went in on a good wicket. Mr. Tabor, first man in,
got 52, when a shower came. The first ball after the shower, Mr. Tabor
hit at a dropping ball of Mr. Lang's, and was bowled. The whole side
were then demolished by Mr. Lang and Mr. Ridley, for 109, and 64 second
innings, while Oxford got 265 first innings. In 1876 Oxford had Mr.
Webbe, an admirable bat, as he is still; Mr. Lang, who had been known to
score; Mr. Ridley, a cricketer of the first class; Mr. Royle, the finest
field, with Mr. Jardine, ever seen; Mr. Game, who had not quite come
into his powers as a hitter; and Mr. Grey Tylecote, a good all-round
man; also Mr. Pulman, a sterling cricketer, and Mr. Buckland, a very
useful player all round. Cambridge had Mr. George Longman, who could
play anything but Mr. R