A BLOODY FRAY. 23 I 



"I know you would, John," he answered. 



I did not take hold of his collar, as he stood 

 perfectly still and quiet. Just then up came 

 Joslin, who was a very big man, and looked 

 at Jones. " Halloa, old chap, is that you ? '' 

 says he. " Yes," said I, "it is, and I'm very 

 sorry to see him. It's Jones, the Birchanger 

 Wood keeper that was. You take charge of 

 bim, Joslin, while I go into the next field." 



Upon this he took hold of Jones very 

 roughly by the collar, which roused the latter's 

 temper. " Come, come, gently on," said Jones. 

 He had scarcely spoken the words when Joslin 

 raised his staff over his (Jones's) head, saying : 

 '* I'll crack your head open for you." " Go 

 on," said Jones, "Two can play at that game." 

 But here I interfered and cautioned Joslin, 

 saying, as I took hold of his arm : *• We don't 

 want any cracking of heads, if you please ; 

 the man was civil enough with me, Joslin." 

 Jones, however, was thoroughly roused, so he 

 called to me to * let be, and that two could 

 play at that game,' at the same time putting 

 his nobbled stick in fighting position. There 



