128 THE JERSEY COAST. 



between the victim and his brother, whenever the 

 latter attempted to dodge past him. " Let him be 

 killed, it would serve him right ; he came over here 

 for a fight, and he shall have enough of it if both of 

 his eyes are gouged out." 



Elijah arrived in time to prevent the latter cata- 

 strophe, and being of a peaceable and humane dispo- 

 sition, pulled off his brother before anything more 

 serious than a little scratching had occurred. In 

 fact, there is no position in which ignorance renders 

 a person more pitiably inefficient, than in fighting ; 

 and, while a skilful man could have killed his oppo- 

 nent during the time Bill had enjoyed, the latter had 

 really effected nothing worth mentioning. The ugly 

 wretch was awfully frightened, however ; his face 

 being ghostly pale, streaked with bloody red, and he 

 commenced whining at once : 



" I am nothing but a boy, only twenty-two last 

 spring, and he's a man grown." 



"You know boys have to be whipped to keep 

 them in order," was the consolatory response ; for 

 we naturally took part with our landlord. 



" Gentlemen, just look at me." 



" Don't come so close, you're covered with blood ; 

 keep back, keep back." 



" But look at me ; he's bigger than I am, and I am 

 only a boy." 



" Then you shouldn't strike a man." 



" Oh ! gentlemen, I didn't strike him first, indeed 

 I didn't ; he struck me when I wasn't thinking ; in- 

 deed he did." 



