upon him."

Thereupon, dashing his hat on the table, he placed himself in an attitude
of offence, and rushed forward. He was, as I have said before, a
powerful fellow, and might have proved a dangerous antagonist, more
especially to myself, who, after my recent encounter with the Flaming
Tinman, and my wrestlings with the evil one, was in anything but fighting
order. Any collision, however, was prevented by the landlord, who,
suddenly appearing, thrust himself between us. "There shall be no
fighting here," said he: "no one shall fight in this house, except it be
with myself; so if you two have anything to say to each other, you had
better go into the field behind the house. But you fool," said he,
pushing Hunter violently on the breast, "do you know whom you are going
to tackle with?--this is the young chap that beat Blazing Bosville, only
as late as yesterday, in Mumpers Dingle. Grey Moll told me all about it
last night, when she came for some brandy for her husband, who, she said,
had been half killed; and she described the young man to me so closely,
that I knew him at once, that is, as soon as I saw how his left hand was
bruised, for she told me he was a left-hand hitter. Ar'n't it all true,
young man? Ar'n't you he that beat Flaming Bosville in Mumpers Dingle?"
"I never beat Flaming Bosville," said I: "he beat himself. Had he not
struck his hand against a tree, I shouldn't be here at the present
moment." "Hear! hear!" said the landlord, "now that's just as it should
be; I like a modest man, for, as the parson says, nothing sits better
upon the young man than modesty. I remember, when I was young, fighting
with Tom of Hopton, the best man that ever pulled off coat in England. I
remember, too, that I won the battle; for I happened to hit Tom of Hopton
in the mark, as he was coming in, so that he lost his wind, and falling
squelch on the ground, do ye see, he lost the battle; though I am free to
confess that he was a better man than myself--indeed, the best man that
ever fought in England. Yet still I won the battle, as every customer of
mine, and everybody within twelve miles round, has heard over and over
again. Now, Mr. Hunter, I have one thing to say; if you choose to go
into the field behind the house, and fight the young man, you can. I'll
back him for ten pounds; but no fighting in my kitchen--because why? I
keeps a decent kind of an establishment."

"I have no wish to fight the young man," said