The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-24

ed the fighting man, as he moved lHlo
! the center of the ground, me, VINO
should be champion, vighting by moon
/ light in a vorest With mad YANKEE.
! Wat a tale TO tell in Wttechapel,
I'm not a Yankee" said Rivera, as
| if for others consolation, l thought
/ I'm an Irish-Jew."
! AN Irish-Jewn returned the other,
with a note of admiration. Now,
| that's better, lad: Irish on jew makes
a bitter cross for the ring. But all
! the same, it's a shame Vor me 10 De
ere millin' by moonlight in voreign
parts, an never no purse nor ropes
nor nothink, an no Ugh toby blokes
TO referee or even old a watch. An
me, mind you, as should be champion.
Why do you say that asked Ri
vera, in a hunger of boyish curiosity
to know how honorable the conquest
was he went about. "Of what should
you be Champion"
"Hengland, lad. wat else" said the
other It's all on account Of an acci-
dent that l beant. ] vights With Big
Tom Brown Of Bridgenorth, | does; an
Tom. e maps ii on the bugle so ard
'e's all Vor beedin' to death. An With
that, the beaks is vOr putin me on a
transport to go TO New South Wales,
when l moseys down to Bristol, an
goes aboard ship an comes over ere.
If l could ave stayed at ONE, I'd a
beat BeudigO by now, an been the
champion 'sted of e. 'Owever, Volks
must do the best With wat they has,
so hup Wit hyour mauleys, lad. Time
More than once l had seen our rough
keel boatmen of the Cumberland in
dulge, when soaked of rum, in what
they termed a rough and tumble but
this, when Rivera and the fighting
man of Whitechapel stood up to one
another was the first time l was to
observe how ones trained to flstlcuts
expound the game. My keel-bOatmen
fought in biting, clawing, gouging,
wildcat way that was a climax of
brutality and blood. This would not
be the story of Rivera and his foe, for
their labors were as cleaniy accurate
as a cameo, while yet the blows they
dealt would have shaken an oak to its
core.
AS the fighting man of Whitechapel
exclaimed Time" Rivera and he drew
cautiously over to one another. l
could see how each kept his left hand
well forward and his left foot ad-
vanced to bear it company while the
right foot was planted with firm
the knee, but the leg stiff to prop
against a blow. The right arm would
be used, too, more as a guard to save
the body, but with hand in reserve
clanched like iron to deal a finishing
blow whenever the vanguard or left
hand had opened the way with the
enemy.
Rivera and the fighting man spared
carefully and as folk who would test
each other. And yet, while there abode
with each a wealth of care and saw
ing determination to be sure of guards
and parties, there was no slowness.
They paced about and before one an
other like two fighting panthers, each
as ready as leven-flash to have ad-
vantage of a weakness in the others
defense.
TO me it was like a picture of mo-
ton, and a sense of delight coursed in
my veins. l was so held, too, l did
not once cast my eyes on Peg, who
with her hand on my arm was crowd
ed snug to my side and-as / remem-
berer later. when l would learn the
reason of pain for it-leaning upon me
with all her slight weight. No, so rapt
was my gaze for the moment that /
never once looked nor thought on Peg;
and that, let me tell you. is a deal to
say, since such was our witch -child's
sweet hold on Inc l could number you
few moments which did not find her
in the fond foreground of my fancy.
OF the suddenest, the fighting man
fell upon Rivera like a storm. But it
would be of no avail. The blows he
dealt, Rivera caught upon his fore
arm; and that with so careless a con-
fidence it would appear to sting the
other. In the last of the melee the
fighting man, stepping swiftly near,
struck slashing. swinging blow that
should have cracked a skull had one
gotten in the way. Rivera leaped back,
light as a goat and as sure. AS the
big fist swept harmessly on it's jour
ID \
our fighting man, however, would
own to no turn for humor The laugh
hurt him like the lash of a rawhide.
Without pause or space, and with a
sharpness that stood a marvel i'm one
so bulky he repeated the smashing
swing, but with the other hand. Ri
vera did moi spring backward; indeed,
he had no time, even had he carried
the inclination. But it would be all
one with Noah's protege, for he ducked
his head like wild fowl who dives
from the flash of a gun. Again the
blow passed without seattle; only, this
time, over Riveras cunning head. The
force of the swing half turned the
fighting man; with that, and not
striking him, but, as though in a spirit
of derision, pushing with open hand,
and at the Same moment locking, as
wrestlers would say, the enemy's ankle
at the back with his foot. Rivera tum-
bled our huge gentleman over on the
grass He fell a-sprawl. but with no
hurt to himself, and all as easy as
delivering bale of goods at ones
door.
The fighting man got slowly to his
feet. Then he looked on Rivera with
an eye of puzzled discomfort.
BE you playin' With me, lad?" said
he at last. This in manner of in
jury.
Rivera made no retort other than his
quiet laugh that told rather of pleas
ure than amusement. Clearly, Rivera
was in enjoyments very heart and
his cup would come to him crowned
of high delight.
The fighting man went now and
leaned against tree to breathe him
self Presently he spoke again: l
could tell by the way of it how his re-
gard for Rivera had been augmented.
low 'eavy be you, lad?" he asked,
his breath still coming in short, deep
puffs.
lone hundred and eighty-two," said
Rivera.
An wat would that be in stone?"
Thirteen"
"Dye see now" exclaimed the fight
ing man, dejectedly, IAN that should
be my weight. Only I'm a stone above;
but it's fat an does Be arm. You bees
==c==---=---=--=-=