Now, I could run any man round here from 300 yards up to a
mile; but I knew I must be took at the gate, unless I could stop the
keeper. I had a big stick with me--about six foot long it was--and did
sometimes to beat fuzz with; so I takes the stick by one end. He come up
very sharp, and I made up my mind to let him gain on me. As soon as I
_feels_ him on me, I swings round, and the stick got him on the side of
the head. He went flat down, and I got on to the road. I picked up my
mates, and we washes our faces in a pond; then we leaves our clothes
with one of the school, and walks off to the pub. Half an hour after, in
comes the keeper and says, 'See what some of you blackguards has done
for me?' I stands him a drink and says how sorry, and we parted. Ah!
Years after that I was at a harvest supper with that keeper, and we
talks of that affair. I says, 'I'll tell you now, I was the man as
knocked you over,' and he says, 'Shake hands, Tom. It was the cleanest
thing I ever saw done.'
"Do you really like the game, then?"
"Like it! I'd die at it.
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