Cashel Byron's Profession

"Yes," said the novice, scornfully; "and what is Ebony Muley? A

wretched old nigger nearly sixty years old, who is drunk seven days

in the week, and would sell a fight for a glass of brandy! Ducket

ought to have knocked him out of time in seventy seconds. Ducket has

no science."

"Not a bit," said Ned. "But he has lots of game."

"Pshaw! Come, now, Ned; you know as well as I do that that is one of

the stalest commonplaces going. If a fellow knows how to box, they

always say he has science but no pluck. If he doesn't know his right

hand from his left, they say that he isn't clever but that he is

full of game."

Skene looked with secret wonder at his pupil, whose powers of

observation and expression sometimes seemed to him almost to rival

those of Mrs. Skene. "Sam was saying something like that to-day," he

remarked. "He says you're only a sparrer, and that you'd fall down

with fright if you was put into a twenty-four-foot ring."

The novice flushed. "I wish I had been here when Sum Ducket said

that."

"Why, what could you ha' done to him?" said Skene, his small eyes

twinkling.

"I'd have punched his head; that's what I could and would have done

to him."

"Why, man, he'd eat you."

"He might. And he might eat you too, Ned, if he had salt enough with

you. He talks big because he knows I have no money; and he pretends

he won't strip for less than fifty pounds a side."

"No money!" cried Skene. "I know them as'll make up fifty pound

before twelve to-morrow for any man as I will answer for. There'd be

a start for a young man! Why, my fust fight was for five shillings

in Tott'nam Fields; and proud I was when I won it. I don't want to

set you on to fight a crack like Sam Ducket anyway against your

inclinations; but don't go for to say that money isn't to be had.

Let Ned Skene pint to a young man and say, 'That's the young man as

Ned backs,' and others will come for'ard--ay, crowds of 'em."

The novice hesitated. "Do you think I ought to, Ned?" he said.

"That ain't for me to say," said Skene, doggedly. "I know what I

would ha' said at your age. But perhaps you're right to be cautious.

I tell you the truth, I wouldn't care to see you whipped by the like

of Sam Ducket."