"Certainly," he replied. "I shall strike hard, so be on your guard." "Good," said I; "now take your post." He did. He retired to one edge of the circle and advanced on me leisurely, now stooping and leaning his shield-arm on his knee as he rested a moment to survey me, and now circling round me, first rising on one leg and then on the other, and waving his stick in the air. I stood perfectly still and in a careless attitude, but well on my guard, for I knew that I should hazard something in moving after him. It was evident to me he did not expect this, for he seemed for a moment irresolute, but at last he rushed on me with two or three bounds, and aimed a blow at my head. I was perfectly prepared, for I knew his mode of attack; I received the blow on my shield, caught the stick under it, and rained such a shower of blows on his undefended person as completely astonished him. The assembly rang with plaudits, and the other Rajpoot stepped forward and saluted me. "You have had but short work with my friend Bheem Singh," said he; "but now you must try me." "I am ready," I replied; "so get to your post." I had now an antagonist worthy of me; he knew my system of play, and verily I thought myself for the moment engaged with my old instructor, but I had used to vanquish him, and I did not fear the man before me. We were soon hotly engaged: he was as cool and wary as myself, and after a long conflict, in which neither had the advantage, we rested awhile, both out of breath. "Enough, enough!" cried Cheetoo; "you have both done bravely; neither has won, and you had better let the matter stand as it is." "Not so, Khodawund," said I; "let us finish it; one of us must win, and my friend here desires as much as myself to see which of us is the better man. Is it not so?" "Ay," said the fellow, laughingly, "the Nuwab Sahib knows that no one as yet has overcome me; but I have fairly met my match: and whoever taught you was a good master, and has had a disciple worthy of him." "As you will," said Cheetoo, "only play in good humour; let no feud grow out of it." We both saluted him, and assured him we could not quarrel, and that whoever was victor must entertain a high respect for his opponent.