ood gazing at each
other in silence. There was good ground for hesitation on both sides,
for, on the one hand, Will Osten and his three friends were resolute and
powerful fellows, while, on the other, the giant and his comrades,
besides being stout men, were eight in number. Now, it chanced that our
hero had, in early boyhood, learned an art which, we humbly submit, has
been unfairly brought into disrepute--we refer to the art of boxing.
Good reader, allow us to state that we do not advocate pugilism. We
never saw a prize-fight, and have an utter abhorrence of the "ring." We
not only dislike the idea of seeing two men pommel each other's faces
into a jelly, but we think the looking at such a sight tends to
demoralise. There is a vast difference, however, between this and the
use of "the gloves," by means of which a man may learn the useful art of
"self-defence," and may, perhaps, in the course of his life, have the
happiness of applying his knowledge to the defence of a mother, a
sister, or a wife, as well as "self." If it be objectionable to use the
gloves because they represent the fist, then is it equally objectionable
to use the foil because it represents the sword? But, pray, forgive
this digression. Ten to one, in _your_ case, reader, it is unnecessary,
because sensible people are more numerous than foolish! Howbeit,
whether right or wrong, Will Osten had, as we have said, acquired the by
no means unimportant knowledge of _where_ to hit and _how_ to hit. He
had also the good sense to discern _when_ to hit, and he invariably
acted on the principal that--"whatever is worth doing, is worth doing
well."

On the present occasion Will walked suddenly up to the giant, and,
without uttering a word, planted upon his body two blows, which are, we
believe, briefly termed by the "fancy" _one--two_! We do not pretend to
much knowledge on this point, but we are quite certain that number _one_
lit upon the giant's chest and took away his breath, while number _two_
fell upon his forehead and removed his senses. Before he had time to
recover either breath or senses, number _three_ ended the affair by
flattening his nose and stretching his body on the sand.

At this sudden and quite unexpected proceeding Larry O'Hale burst into a
mingled laugh and cheer, which he appropriately concluded by springing
on and flooring the man who stood opposite to him. Muggins and the old
salt were about to follow his example, but their