Nowthesemenupseteverything。Havingbeenamongwrestlerssomuchasmydutycompelledmetobe，andhavinglearnedthenecessityoftherestwhichfollowstheconflict，andtherightofdiscussionwhichallpeoplehavetopaytheirsixpencetoenter；andhowtheyobtrudethisright，andtheirwisdom，uponthemanwhohaslaboured，untilheforgetsalltheworkhedid，andbeginstothinkthattheydidit；havingsomeknowledgeofthissortofthing，andthefluxofmindsswimminginliquor，Iforesawabrawl，asplainlyasifitwereBearStreetinBarnstaple。
Andabrawltherewas，withoutanyerror，exceptofthemenwhohittheirfriends，andthosewhodefendedtheirenemies。Mypartnersinbreakfastandbeer-cansworethatIwasnoprisoner，butthebestandmostloyalsubject，andthefinest-heartedfellowtheyhadeverthelucktomeetwith。WhereasthemenfromthelinhaysworethatIwasarebelmiscreant；andhavemetheywould，witharope’s-endready，inspiteofevery[violentlanguage]whohadgotdrunkatmyexpense，andbeenmisledbymy[strongword]lies。
Whilethisfightwasgoingonanditsmereoccurrenceshows，perhaps，thatmyconversationinthosedayswasnotentirelydespicable——elsewhyshouldmynewfriendsfightforme，whenIhadpaidfortheale，andthereforewonthewrongtenseofgratitude？itwasinmypoweratanymomenttotakehorseandgo。Andthiswouldhavebeenmywisestplan，andaverygreatsavingofmoney；butsomehowIfeltasifitwouldbeameanthingtoslipoffso。EvenwhileIwashesitating，andthemenwerebreakingeachother’sheads，asuperiorofficerrodeup，withhissworddrawn，andhisfaceonfire。
’What，mylambs，mylambs!’hecried，smitingwiththeflatofhissword；’isthishowyouwastemytimeandmypurse，whenyououghttobecatchingahundredprisoners，worthtenpoundsapiecetome？Whoisthisyoungfellowwehavehere？Speakup，sirrah；whatartthou，andhowmuchwillthygoodmotherpayforthee？’
’Mymotherwillpaynaughtforme，’Ianswered；whilethelambsfellback，andgloweredatoneanother：’sopleaseyourworship，Iamnorebel；butanhonestfarmer，andwell-provedofloyalty。’