. Tom Browns school-days . s hat and coat, andarms himself with a stick; he then loops the fingers of his left handin a handkerchief or strap which he fastens round his left leg,measuring the length, so that when he draws it tight, with his leftelbow in the air, that elbow shall just reach as high as his , you see, so long as he chooses to keep his left elbow up,regardless of cuts, he has a perfect guard for the left side of hishead. Then he advances his right hand above and in front ofhis head, holding his stick across so that its point projects an inchor two over his left elbow, an
. Tom Browns school-days . s hat and coat, andarms himself with a stick; he then loops the fingers of his left handin a handkerchief or strap which he fastens round his left leg,measuring the length, so that when he draws it tight, with his leftelbow in the air, that elbow shall just reach as high as his , you see, so long as he chooses to keep his left elbow up,regardless of cuts, he has a perfect guard for the left side of hishead. Then he advances his right hand above and in front ofhis head, holding his stick across so that its point projects an inchor two over his left elbow, and thus his whole head is completelyguarded, and he faces his man armed in like manner, and theystand some three feet apart, often nearer, and feint, and strike,and return at each others heads, until one cries Hold! orblood flows; in the first case they are allowed a minutes time,and go on again; in the latter, another pair of gamesters are calledon. If good men are playing, the quickness of the returns is [34] ^l?llfi. THE GYPSY SCOWLS AT JOE At: SCHOOL DAYS marvellous; you hear the rattle like that a boy makes drawinghis stick along palings, only heavier, and the closeness of the menin action to each other gives it a strange interest and makes aspell at back-swording a very noble sight. They are all suited now with sticks, and Joe Willis and thegypsy man have drawn the first lot. So the rest lean against therails of the stage, and Joe and the dark man meet in the middle,the boards having been strewed with sawdust; Joes white shirtand spotless drab breeches and boots contrasting with the gypsyscoarse blue shirt and dirty green velveteen breeches and leathergaiters. Joe is evidently turning up his nose at the other, andhalf insulted at having to break his head. The gypsy is a tough, active fellow, but not very skilful withhis weapon, so that Joes weight and strength tell in a minute;he is too heavy metal for him—whack, whack, whack, come hisblows, breaking down the gypsys
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