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The Broad Highway

Page 117

"One hunner and twenty!" cried half-a-dozen voices.

"And a half," corrected Job, thrusting the hammer into my hand,

and grinning.

"Can 'ee beat that?" inquired Black George again.

"Ay, can 'ee beat that?" echoed the crowd.

"It was a marvellous throw!" said I, shaking my head. And

indeed, in my heart I knew I could never hope to equal, much less

beat, such a mighty cast. I therefore decided on strategy, and,

with this in mind, proceeded, in a leisurely fashion, once more

to mark out the circle, which was obliterated in places, to

flatten the surface underfoot, to roll up my sleeves, and tighten

my belt; in fine, I observed all such precautions as a man might

be expected to take before some supreme effort.

At length, having done everything I could think of to impress

this idea upon the onlookers, I took up the hammer.

"Means to do it this time!" cried the man with the rake; knocking

off Job's hat in his excitement, as, with a tremendous swing, I

made my second throw. There was a moment's breathless silence as

the hammer hurtled through the air, then, like an echo to its

fall, came a shout of laughter, for the distance was palpably far

short of the giant smith's last. A moment later Job came pacing

up, and announced: "Eighty-seven!" Hereupon arose a very babel of voices: "You've got un beat a'ready, Jarge!"

"Well, I knowed it from the start!"

"Let un alone," cried Simon, "'e've got another chance yet."

"Much good it'll do 'im!"

"Ah! might as well give in now, and take 'is thrashin' and ha'

done wi' it."

That my ruse had succeeded with the crowd was evident; they--to a

man--believed I had done my best, and already regarded me as

hopelessly beaten. My chance of winning depended upon whether

the smith, deluded into a like belief, should content himself

with just beating my last throw, for, should he again exert his

mighty strength to the uttermost, I felt that my case was indeed

hopeless.

It was with a beating heart, therefore, that I watched him take

his place for the last throw. His face wore a confident smile,

but nevertheless he took up the hammer with such a businesslike

air that my heart sank, and, feeling a touch upon my arm, I was

glad to turn away. "I be goin' to fetch a sponge and water,"

said Simon.

"A sponge and water!"

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