23 6 



BROADLAND SPORT 



"These irrelevant remarks by Toper were severely cen- 

 sured by the judge and the trial proceeded. The speeches of 

 counsel I forget, but I know they convulsed everyone with 

 laughter ; so much so that in the end even old Toper himself 

 couldn't help joining in the fun. At last the case was ended 

 and the prisoner found guilty, but in consideration of his 

 great age he was strongly recommended to mercy. 



" ' Prisoner at the bar, you have been found guilty, I 

 deeply regret to say, by the unanimous verdict of the jury. I 



THE GIPSY LIFE OF BKOADLAND. 



will not comment upon the enormity of your crime. Your 

 conscience must have already told you the heinousness of 

 your sin. It only remains for me now to pass upon you the 

 sentence of this honourable court, which is, that you be 

 turned adrift, on your return down the stream, on Hickling 

 Broad [several hundred acres of water] in a jolly-boat, without 

 oars, without mast, without sails, without a rudder, without 

 meat, without drink, and lastly, without clothes in fact, in a 

 state of nudity, in an empty boat ! But the jury recom- 

 mended you to mercy on account of your great age, and as it 

 is ever the prerogative of justice to lean towards the side of 



