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thought； brother； that I was a drowsy scoppelo； and that I had let
the fellow pass by whilst I was sleeping behind a bush。 As it
turned out； however； his going to sleep did no harm； but quite the
contrary： just as he was going away； he heard a gate slam in the
direction of the fields； and then he heard the low stumping of
horses； as if on soft ground； for the path in those fields is
generally soft； and at that time it had been lately ploughed up。
Well； brother； presently he saw two men on horseback coming towards
the lane through the field behind the gate； the man who rode
foremost was a tall big fellow； the very man he was in quest of；
the other was a smaller chap； not so small either； but a light；
wiry fellow； and a proper master of his hands when he sees occasion
for using them。 Well； brother； the foremost man came to the gate；
reached at the hank； undid it； and rode through； holding it open
for the other。 Before； however； the other could follow into the
lane； out bolted the plastramengro from behind the tree； kicked the
gate to with his foot； and； seizing the big man on horse…back； 〃You
are my prisoner；〃 said he。 I am of opinion； brother； that the
plastramengro； notwithstanding he went to sleep； must have been a
regular fine fellow。'
'I am entirely of your opinion；' said I； 'but what happened then？'
'Why； brother； the Rommany chal； after he had somewhat recovered
from his surprise； for it is rather uncomfortable to be laid hold
of at night…time； and told you are a prisoner； more especially when
you happen to have two or three things on your mind which； if
proved against you； would carry you to the nashky； … the Rommany
chal； I say； clubbed his whip； and aimed a blow at the
plastramengro； which； if it had hit him on the skull； as was
intended； would very likely have cracked it。 The plastramengro；
however； received it partly on his staff； so that it did him no
particular damage。 Whereupon； seeing what kind of customer he had
to deal with； he dropped his staff and seized the chal with both
his hands； who forthwith spurred his horse； hoping； by doing so；
either to break away from him or fling him down； but it would not
do … the plastramengro held on like a bull…dog； so that the Rommany
chal； to escape being hauled to the ground； suddenly flung himself
off the saddle； and then happened in that lane； close by the gate；
such a struggle between those two … the chal and the runner … as I
suppose will never happen again。 But you must have heard of it；
every one has heard of it； every one has heard of the fight between
the Bow Street engro and the Rommany chal。'
'I never heard of it till now。'
'All England rung of it； brother。 There never was a better match
than between those two。 The runner was somewhat the stronger of
the two … all those engroes are strong fellows … and a great deal
cooler； for all of that sort are wondrous cool people … he had；
however； to do with one who knew full well how to take his own
part。 The chal fought the engro； brother； in the old Roman
fashion。 He bit； he kicked； and screamed like a wild cat of
Benygant； casting foam from his mouth and fire from his eyes。
Sometimes he was beneath the engro's legs； and sometimes he was
upon his shoulders。 What the engro found the most difficult was to
get a firm hold of the chal； for no sooner did he seize the chal by
any part of his wearing apparel； than the chal either tore himself
away； or contrived to slip out of it； so that in a little time the
chal was three parts naked； and as for holding him by the body； it
was out of the question； for he was as slippery as an eel。 At last
the engro seized the chal by the Belcher's handkerchief； which he
wore in a knot round his neck； and do whatever the chal could； he
could not free himself； and when the engro saw that； it gave him
fresh heart； no doubt： 〃It's of no use；〃 said he； 〃you had better
give in； hold out your hands for the darbies； or I will throttle
you。〃
'And what did the other fellow do； who came with the chal？' said I。
'I sat still on my horse； brother。'
'You！' said I。 'Were you the man？'
'I was he； brother。'
'And why did you not help your comrade？'
'I have fought in the ring； brother。'
'And what had fighting in the ring to do with fighting in the
lane？'
'You mean not fighting。 A great deal； brother； it taught me to
prize fair play。 When I fought Staffordshire Dick； t'other side of
London； I was alone； brother。 Not a Rommany chal to back me； and
he had all his brother pals about him； but they gave me fair play；
brother； and I beat Staffordshire Dick； which I couldn't have done
had they put one finger on his side the scale； for he was as good a
man as myself； or nearly so。 Now； brother； had I but bent a finger
in favour of the Rommany chal； the plastramengro would never have
come alive out of the lane； but I did not； for I thought to myself
fair play is a precious stone； so you see； brother … '
'That you are quite right； Mr。 Petulengro； I see that clearly； and
now； pray proceed with your narration； it is both moral and
entertaining。'
But Mr。 Petulengro did not proceed with his narration； neither did
he proceed upon his way； he had stopped his horse； and his eyes
were intently fixed on a broad strip of grass beneath some lofty
trees； on the left side of the road。 It was a pleasant enough
spot； and seemed to invite wayfaring people； such as we were； to
rest from the fatigues of the road； and the heat and vehemence of
the sun。 After examining it for a considerable time； Mr。
Petulengro said； 'I say； brother； that would be a nice place for a
tussle！'
'I daresay it would；' said I； 'if two people were inclined to
fight。'
'The ground is smooth；' said Mr。 Petulengro； 'without holes or
ruts； and the trees cast much shade。 I don't think； brother； that
we could find a better place；' said Mr。 Petulengro； springing from
his horse。
'But you and I don't want to fight！'
'Speak for yourself； brother；' said Mr。 Petulengro。 'However； I
will tell you how the matter stands。 There is a point at present
between us。 There can be no doubt that you are the cause of Mrs。
Herne's death； innocently； you will say； but still the cause。 Now；
I shouldn't like it to be known that I went up and down the country
with a pal who was the cause of my mother…in…law's death； that's to
say； unless he gave me satisfaction。 Now； if I and my pal have a
tussle； he gives me satisfaction； and； if he knocks my eyes out；
which I know you can't do； it makes no difference at all； he gives
me satisfaction； and he who says to the contrary knows nothing of
gypsy law； and is a dinelo into the bargain。'
'But we have no gloves！'
'Gloves！' said Mr。 Petulengro； contemptuously； 'gloves！ I tell you
what； brother； I always thought you were a better