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all the cheering, for the other man was an absolute stranger to everyone 

 present except the gentlemen from Cheshire. Keate was waited upon by 

 Isaac Bittoon and a man named Jacomb, from Nantwich. Flowers had the 

 invaluable assistance of the experienced veterans, Bill Gibbons and Joe Ward, 

 who were objects of much reverence to the admiring yokels. Mr. Paul 

 Methuen was referee. Mr. John Isherwood, of Maple Hall, Cheshire, was 

 umpire for Keate. Mr. Charles Dalbiac, of Hungerford Park, Berks, for 

 Flowers. 



Neither man had ever set eyes upon the other until they met on the stage. 

 As they stepped forward and shook hands, the crowd cheered lustily, whilst 

 the men themselves eyed each other curiously and critically from head to 

 foot — then parted to join their seconds in their respective corners, and to 

 make ready for the fray. 



When at last Mr. Paul Methuen, in that clear, melodious voice on which 

 be prided himself (he was a distinguished amateur actor as well as a keen 

 sportsman), called " Time," and the combatants, stripped to the waist, stood 

 up face to face and foot to foot in the centre of the stage, every eye in that 

 vast concourse was eagerly fastened on them. The Cheshire man was 

 obviously the taller and heavier of the two. He could not have been far off 

 oft. lOin., and his weight was certainly not less than twelve stone. Flowers, 

 on the other hand, stood but 5ft. Sin., and scaled only just eleven stone. 

 The stranger was certainly a fine, powerful man, with a look of dogged 

 resolution on his fair, florid face ; but his attitude was awkward and he 

 lacked the lissomness and spring which characterised his opponent. Henry 

 Flowers, indeed, was a model of what a man of his size and weight ought to 

 be. A hardy-looking, swarthy, black-haired man, firm and well-knit, with 

 bold, bright, dark eyes and a beautifully symmetrical figure. He was, more- 

 over, in splendid condition, and had the confiidence begotten of an unbroken 

 series of victories. 



It was evident that they meant business these two sturdy countrymen. 

 They had not been spoiled by the affectations of the Fives and Tennis 

 Courts. It is to fight and not to spar that they have come here, and after 

 just one long steady look at one another from head to foot they put up their 

 hands, set their teeth, and prepare for a battle even to the death. The 

 Wiltshire man leads off with a hot one from his left which grazes Keate's 

 right ear. The Cheshire man is just in time to jerk his head on one side 

 and avoid the full force of the blow, and straightway swings a roundhanded 

 crack with his right into Harry's face ; thump it goes against the man's 

 cheek, and the little knot of Cheshire sportsmen applaud vigorously. 

 Another roundhander from his left catches Flowers on the side of the head 

 just over the ear, and Squire Legh, in his excitement, stands up and weaves 

 his hat, as though he were hallooing on liis hounds. " Hammer him, Keate, 

 hammer him ! " shout Mr. Egerton and Lord Grosvenor simultaneously, and 

 he does so. Smash goes his fist again into the Dunsden youth's face, and 

 this time blood follows the blow. What is the Wilts man after? Three 

 clinking hits he has napped, and given never a one in return. This is not 

 what his friends have been accustomed to from Harry Flowers. But he is 

 not long idle ; crash goes his right, straight as a dart, at Keate's mouth. 

 Whew ! '* That's a warm one," cry the swells on the Starid, for home the 

 horny fist of Flowers has gone with a vengeance, and the blood spurts from 



