confessthatIwassomewhatafraid，butIconsideredmyselfinsomedegreeundertheprotectionofthefamousSergeant，and，clenchingmyfist，Iwentatmyfoe，usingtheguardwhichmyallyrecommended。TheresultcorrespondedtoacertaindegreewiththepredictionsoftheSergeant；Igavemyfoeabloodynoseandablackeye，though，notwithstandingmyrecentlessonintheartofself—defence，hecontrivedtogivemetwoorthreeclumsyblows。FromthatmomentIwastheespecialfavouriteoftheSergeant，whogavemefurtherlessons，sothatinalittletimeIbecameaveryfairboxer，beatingeverybodyofmyownsizewhoattackedme。Theoldgentleman，however，mademepromisenevertobequarrelsome，nortoturnhisinstructionstoaccount，exceptinself—
defence。Ihavealwaysborneinmindmypromise，andhavemadeitapointofconsciencenevertofightunlessabsolutelycompelled。Folksmayrailagainstboxingiftheyplease，butbeingabletoboxmaysometimesstandaquietmaningoodstead。HowshouldIhavefaredto—day，butfortheinstructionsofSergeantBroughton？Butforthem，thebrutalruffianwhoinsultedmemusthavepassedunpunished。HewillnotsoonforgetthelessonwhichIhavejustgivenhim—theonlylessonhecouldunderstand。Whatwouldhavebeentheuseofreasoningwithafellowofthatdescription？BraveoldBroughton！Iowehimmuch。\"
\"Andyourmanneroffighting，\"saidI，\"wasthemanneremployedbySergeantBroughton？\"
\"Yes，\"saidmynewacquaintance；\"itwasthemannerinwhichhebeateveryonewhoattemptedtocontendwithhim，till，inanevilhour，heenteredtheringwithSlack，withoutanytrainingorpreparation，andbyachanceblowlostthebattletoamanwhohadbeenbeatenwitheasebythosewho，inthehandsofBroughton，appearedlikesomanychildren。ItwasthewayoffightingofhimwhofirsttaughtEnglishmentoboxscientifically，whowastheheadandfatherofthefightersofwhatisnowcalledtheoldschool，thelastofwhichwereJohnsonandBigBen。\"
\"Awonderfulman，thatBigBen，\"saidI。