AN ALE-HOUSE FIGHT 115 



But this was the last exploit of Captain Hawkes. 

 On the evening of the same day a man in a heavy 

 topcoat and riding-boots, splashed, and with every 

 appearance of having come off a long journey, entered 

 the "Rising Sun," at a village about twenty miles 

 away. In one compartment of the tap-room, on 

 either side of a painted table, sat two ploughmen, in 

 smock-frocks, their shock heads resting on their arms, 

 which were spread out on the table near an empty 

 quart pot. They were both snoring loudly. The 

 new-comer, having been served with a oflass of o-in 

 and water, and a long clay pipe, took no notice of the 

 sleepers. In a few minutes one of the rustics awoke, 

 and, glancing vacantly about him, scratching his 

 carroty head, seized the empty pot. 



He put it down, and, giving his companion a push 

 that nearly sent him off his seat, exclaimed, " Ye 

 greedy chap ! blest if ye ain't been and drunk up all 

 the beer while I were a-sleeping." 



" Then ye shouldn't have been a-sleeping, ye fool," 

 retorted the other, grinning from ear to ear. 



" I'll gi' ye a dowse 0' the chaps if ye grin at me," 

 shouted the man, angrily, 



" Haw, haw ! " jeered the griuner, across the table. 

 " 'T would take a better man nor you to do it. And," 

 he added, " if ye don't want a hiding, ye'd better not 

 try." 



Up jumped the two chawbacons simultaneously, 

 and rushed at one another furiously. They rolled on 

 the sanded floor, kicking and cuffing, while the 

 stranger sipped his gin and water and smoked placidly 

 enough. 



