PUFFY DODDLES' CHALLENGE. 21 



" walk a mile, run a mile, bowl a hoop a mile, eat a leg of mutton, 

 drink a bucket of beer, and give suction to a brace of twins, 

 in thirty minutes fifteen seconds. Latest betting, five to four 

 on the old gal." 



The disposition of Puny Doddles was anything but of a 

 pugnacious character ; but upon the unwarrantable introduction 

 of this fictitious match between his kind, old, departed mother, 

 against time, and the deafening applause which followed on the 

 part of the attendant parasites, he was observed to turn up 

 the sleeves of his holland jacket with a deliberate and slow 

 movement, and throwing his cap upon the ground with as 

 gallant a bearing as ever knight of old threw down his steel 

 gauntlet of defiance, proclaimed, in the absence of any herald 

 to perform the office, that he was " then and there ready to take 

 it out of the best man among 'em." 



Upon this bold challenge being given, Mr. Tom Trigg 

 became a conspicuous object, upon which the concentrated looks 

 of the attendant parasites in jackets and gaiters were riveted 

 in silence ; and it must be confessed that that oracle of wit in 

 the Great Stable of the North presented anything but an ap- 

 pearance of ease as he found himself the centre of attraction of 

 the eyes referred to. A bright red tinge mantled over his 

 cheeks, mounting quickly even to his forehead, and he stam- 

 mered forth a hesitating, weak, lame, and impotent refusal to 

 run the risk of having it " taken it out of him " just then, on 

 particular grounds, which he thought proper to reserve for the 

 moment as a secret between himself and his conscience. 



" Is there anybody else who would like to have it taken out 

 of him V returned the valiant Puffy, glancing around, and 

 lightly throwing himself in an attitude especially adapted both 

 for offence and defence. 



None of the attendant parasites in jackets and gaiters, how- 

 ever, appeared more inclined than their leader to accept the 

 general invitation of " having it taken out of them." One 

 must " go and look after his 'oss ; " another " thought he was 



