Rugby Days. 63 



Dickens, who was picking up a little 

 'character' under the gallows for his 

 * David Copperfield.' At the end of ten 

 minutes, or less, a tall figure was generally 

 seen hastily issuing from the little door of 

 the turret which flanked the head master's 

 house, and opened into 'The Close.' 'The 

 Doctor ! the Doctor ! ' rang from every 

 tongue ; combatants and spectators rushed 

 from the spot, and the belligerent pair were 

 forbidden to fight again. As just sufficient 

 time had been given them to find out which 

 was the better man, a respect for each other's 

 prowess often produced a fast friendship ; 

 and, owing to this admirable system, few 

 fights came off in a half-year, to the great 

 disgust of the resident juvenile ' Fancy.' 



" During the horse fairs, it was our delight 

 to interview the thoroughbred stallions, such 

 as Belzoni and Mazeppa, which travelled 

 about the country for the benefit of the 

 farmers. Lord Westminster's famous sire, 

 Pantaloon, had not as yet been hired by 

 Lord John Scott to stand at Cawston Pad- 

 docks, where afterwards he became so dis- 

 tinguished. It was at a much later date that 



