The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

14 Baynes had the good fortune to plant his left fist very cleverly upon Egerton’s forehead, without the least chance of a return blow, thus gaining the first ad- vantage. | Frank, however, took it very coolly, having made up his mind to win the firht, no matter what difficulties might stand in the way. He showed quite a confident bearing, while the other, elated by his first suc- cess, smiled quite as joyously as he toed the mark. “Tl bet two to one against your man, said Crawley, who acted as Baynes’s second. “Tl take you with a great deal of pleasure—sovereigns, of course?” re- plied the Earl of Pembridge. The bet was booked, during a few seconds of very cautious work between the combatants, which precluded a rally at close quarters, in which Egerton managed to give his antagonist a sound- ing blow upon the chest, which he en- deavoured to repeat, but, in so doing, caught another heavy blow on the fore- head. The Crawleyites applauded greatly, and Frank Egerton’s seconds began to look rather down in the mouth. “ J'll repeat the bet,” said Crawley. “ Certainly,” replied Pembridge ; “I should be a very poor second did I refuse to put my cash upon my principal.” “Tam with you on the same terms, Crawley,” observed Fitzgerald, who had beer. yery intently watching his friend’s boxt ne The ground being rather slippery, after a long term of wet weather, they paused for a moment, looked at each other with a smile, and then recom- menced. Egerton’s length of arm now began to show to advantage, and enabled him to “ draw the ruby,” as a Bell’s Life re- porter would style it. Some close and hard hitting followed, at the end of which Baynes fell, the first round being thus slightly in favour of Egerton. “Yf you like to acknowledge yourself THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? beaten you may withdraw your man," said Pembridge. “Thank you, we decline to take a licking,” replied Baynes’s second. -“©Youwill becompelled todo so sooner or later,” was the response, at which Crawley shook his head incredulously ; but he did not offer to renew his bets, Round the second then commenced. Egerton, with great self-possession, advanced to the attack, being the first to leave his second’s knee. There was a slight symptom of discoloration on his forehead, and Baynes’s mouth was a little puffed. _ The latter, however, met his adver- sary with great determination, and had the good luck to give Egerton a heavy left-hand blow upon the shoulder, re- ceiving in return one on the crown of the head. Both then sparred for wind; that is, kept on the defensive while regaining breath, then resumed the conflict. Baynes first attempted to put in a hit, put Egerton was clever enough to stop it, and returned right and left, drawing blood again. Then Baynes rushed in, and began to wrestle, when both fell at the same time. Their seconds picked them up, and employed some few minutes in prepar- ing them for a renewal. : Egerton looked fresh, and his face was tolerably free from marks, while Baynes had several severe bruises, which were beginning to exhibit diffe. ent hues. Frank quickly came up, to the scratch, and put himself on guard. __ ‘‘ Now, then, where’s your man ?” asked the Earl of Pembridge. “‘ Here he is,” replied Crawley ; “ the referee has not called ‘time’ yet. We shall be up in time to beat you.” ‘“‘ Had we not better hasten on to the end of this miserable affair ?” asked Frank, speaking for the first time. “Stop till my man has had a Lttle brandy,” replied Crawley, “then we shall be delighted to finish giving you a thrashing.” As he spoke, he placed a pocket-Cask to Baynes’s lips EO DOC (CO mn