leap the counter; but
not succeeding, and being now attacked by the dogs and butcher boys, he
charged at them through the door, carrying away our best scales on his
horns as a trophy, as he galloped out of the shop in pursuit of his
persecutors. When the shouts and hallooes were at some little distance,
Timothy and I raised our heads and looked round us; and perceiving that
all was safe, we proceeded to help Mr Cophagus, who remained on the
floor bleeding, and in a state of insensibility. We carried him into
the back parlour and laid him on the sofa. I desired Timothy to run for
surgical aid as fast as he could, while I opened a vein; and in a few
minutes he returned with our opponent, Mr Ebenezer Pleggit. We
stripped Mr Cophagus, and proceeded to examine him. "Bad case this--
very bad case, indeed, Mr Newland--dislocation of the os humeri--severe
contusion on the os frontis--and I'm very much afraid there is some
intercostal injury. Very sorry, very sorry, indeed, for my brother
Cophagus." But Mr Pleggit did not appear to be sorry; on the contrary,
he appeared to perform his surgical duties with the greatest glee.

We reduced the dislocation, and then carried Mr Cophagus up to his bed.
In an hour he was sensible; and Mr Pleggit took his departure, shaking
hands with Mr Cophagus, and wishing him joy of his providential escape.
"Bad job, Japhet," said Mr Cophagus to me. "Very bad, indeed; sir;
but it might have been worse."

"Worse--um--no, nothing worse--not possible."

"Why, sir, you might have been killed."

"Pooh! didn't mean that--mean Pleggit--rascal--um--kill me if he can--
shan't though--soon get rid of him--and so on."

"You will not require his further attendance now that your shoulder is
reduced. I can very well attend upon you."

"Very true, Japhet;--but won't go--sure of that--damned rascal--quite
pleased--I saw it--um--eyes twinkled--smile checked--and so on."

That evening Mr Pleggit called in as Mr Cophagus said that he would,
and the latter showed a great deal of impatience; but Mr Pleggit
repeated his visits over and over again, and I observed that Mr
Cophagus no longer made any objection; on the contrary, seemed anxious
for his coming, and still more so, after he was convalescent, and able
to sit at his table. But the mystery was soon divulged. It appeared
that Mr Cophagus, although he was very glad that other people should
suffer from mad bulls, and come to be cured, viewed the case