Between Snow and Fire — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

_— — —— in which you smoothed down our friend with the broken head was diplomatic to a degree. I hate rows, and the ‘knowledge that some fellow is going about day and night seeking an opportunity of fastening a quarrel upon you unawares is tiresome. Besides, I’m nothing of a boxer, and if I were should hate a shindy just as much.” | “TI quite agree with you,” said the other, who was some- thing of a boxer. “To form the centre of attraction toa howling, yahooing rabble, making an undignified exhibition of yourself bashing and being bashed by some other fellow a like a couple of butcher’s boys in the gutter, is bound to be a revolting process whichever way you look at it. Even the law of the pistol seems to be an improvement on it.” “I think so, too. It puts men on better terms of equality. Any man may become a dead shot and a quick drawer, but not one man in ten can fulfil all the conditions requisite to becoming a good boxer. The fact is, however, I hate rows of any kind, even when only aspectator. When fellows say they like them I never altogether believe them.” Unless they are very young. But the Berserk taint soon wears off as you get on into life a bit,”’ said Errington. 3 “Well now—I turn off here. Good-evening.” \ Gomilecbooks.com