L828.] Life in the Went. 33 



the left, till they came to <in obscure public house, standing back from the 

 road-side, where they stopped. According to their desire, they were ushered 

 into a private room. Wine and cold lamb were soon after served up. 



Lord Hulse. " Come, Bill, take a glass of wine. I'm d d sorry to see 

 you look so seedy. It's time you did something for yourself, and recovered 

 your fame. If you can make a good match and do the right thing, I'll come 

 forward with the bustle. Act like a man this time ; I'll always stand by you, 

 and you shall never want for a friend." 



Bill Wack'em. " I nose vhat sarvice a good friend is to von of our pro- 



fessun, so and , if I don't do my best for you vlchever vay you 



like, master ?" 



Captain Welldone. <e I said you would, Bill." 



Lord Hulse. " Well, I want you to fight a good cross. You must stand 

 a little more beating than you did the last time, Bill, so as to make a good 

 thing for yourself, and future confidence with the Fancy. It must appear a 

 neck and neck heat between you any body's battle ; you understand me, 

 Bill ?" 



Mr. Friske. " It must be done naitly, or not at hall. Bill. 



Bill Wack'em." It shall, masters." 



Lord Hulse. " You must work it into fifty or sixty rounds, and be a good 

 hour before you give in. Don't let any one know who are your backers. 

 You shall have two hundred pounds for losing. That, besides what you'll 

 make in other quarters, will set you up again, and we'll then make another 

 match for you." 



Bill Wack'em. (< I'm much obliged to you, masters ; I'll do any thing to 

 sarve you. I'll come to the scratch in such fine style, that it shall puzzle the 

 devil to see it's a cross." 



Lord Hulse. " You set-to to-morrow for a benefit, Bill, don't you?" 



Bill Wack'em. " I do, and I'll take the shine out of the best of um." 



Lord Hulse. " I suppose you can make a short speech, Bill?" 



Bill Wack'em. " I shall be floored at that, master." 



Lord Hulse. Announce as well as you can then, that you challenge any 

 man in England for one or two hundred pounds, and that your friends are 

 ready to stake. A few paragraphs in the newspapers shall follow., which will 

 tend to awaken a general interest upon the event : but mind, Bill, you must 

 be as secret as the grave. You are d d badly off for blunt, I suppose ?" 



Bill Wack'em. " That I am, master. I've all my things up the spout," 

 (pawnbroker's.) 



Lord Hulse. fc Well, here are nine pounds, which make ten, with what 

 Welldone gave you yesterday. Now make a better appearance." 



Two days after, it having been " put about," at the ' ' sporting houses," 

 that " Mister'Wack'em" is " open to fight" any man for two hundred 

 sovereigns, and " post the pony," that trustworthy individual mounts 

 the stage, at " Gill's," the " Wapping youth's benefit," and addresses the 

 company : 



GEMON, I'm not much gifted vith the gab, but I stans here to challenge 

 any man in all England, for two or five hundred sowereigns aside. I vants 

 the champion's belt, but let him vear it vho proves himself the best man. I 

 means fighting for it, and nothing else. 



This defiance is received with shouts of applause, and elicits an admirable 

 reply published, of course, in " Bell's Life in London" from Jack 

 Floor' em ;" intimating that he is ready to " accommodate" the challenger 

 on his own terms, and to put down fifty guineas at once, and sign 

 articles. 



M.M. New Series. VoL.V. No. 25. F 



