120 ADVENTURES OF CHARLES CARRINGTON, ESQ. 



on a table, " go it, old coon ! " alluding to one of 

 the combatants ; " go it ! Billy's a-gaining on yeu, 

 and if yeu don't look out he'll riz yer liar with his 

 bowie knife, gouge yer eye, and fetch yeu out of 

 yer boots — he will, by ! " 



Such a fearful row I never heard. All were in 

 a state of frenzied excitement — knives glittered in 

 the hands of many. Whilst all this was going on 

 I made my way out of the apartment, and locked 

 and bolted myself in my own. 



In half an hour my landlord came to the door, 

 and knocked for admission. 



" It's all over, stranger," he said as he entered. 

 " Old Calerforney carved two of Bully Larkins' 

 fingers off with his bowie, and Larkins bit off half 

 t'other's nose. I guess he ain't beautiful. They're 

 festive cusses here, and air always at it. Nary a 

 day passes without a free fight." 



I need hardly say the next day I took my de- 

 parture for New York, and was off to England by 

 the first boat. I had had quite enough of my 

 American friends and their notions. 



I have given up sporting, as I found I could 

 make no hand at it. I shoot occasionally for 

 amusement, and fish occasionally, but never lay 

 down the law as an authority. 



