Nat Goodwin's BookGoodwin, Nat. C. (Nathaniel Carll)
General
Nat Goodwin's Book
Goodwin, Nat. C. (Nathaniel Carll)
Actors -- Correspondence
This seemed to meet with the approval of the spectators and I calmly
resumed my seat, thinking that he would take the count. Imagine my
horror when I saw this huge man unravel himself, slowly rise and
approach me with much ferocity. He was about six feet tall, and
weighed in the neighborhood of two hundred pounds. That was the way
he appeared to me, at all events. I naturally expected Pond or some
of the on-lookers to interfere, but no such luck! As he viciously
approached me he swung his right very hard at my head. I ducked it,
got to my feet, determined to find out if he knew anything about
boxing. I feinted him and discovered that he was ignorant of everything
pertaining to the noble art. I also realized that if he ever caught me
in his embrace it was "Goodnight to home and mother" for "America's
Foremost!" I jumped about and finally with good judgment and better
luck, landed a punch on the identical chin, in the same place, and down
went the part owner of "Big Pony," again.
Still no interference! The bartenders continued nonchalantly wiping the
tumblers. Pond kept on complacently puffing his weed and the spectators
obligingly formed an extemporaneous ring. I was standing, gasping, in
the center of the room. My right hand was split and rapidly becoming
the size of a cantaloupe.
The gentleman on the floor slowly uncoiled himself and came at me
again, only to receive a blow on the same spot and go to the floor.
This time I nearly went with him! Weighing about one hundred and thirty
pounds my work upon the human punching bag was beginning to tell. This
kept up for two more rounds and still no one interfered. The reason was
afterwards explained to me. I was "winning so easily!"
Winning, indeed! I was slowly dying and had I been possessed of the
necessary courage I would have solicited interference, realizing that I
must stop or faint! I was slowly but surely passing away. I had enough
strength left in my legs to back towards the lunch counter, knowing
that there were missiles on the table. As he closed in on me, instead
of endeavoring to avoid him, I clutched him in a fond, yet tenacious,
embrace. As we went down I reached up on the table, endeavoring to
grasp the first article on which my hand came in contact. I clutched
something, which proved to be a caster filled with its usual bottles.
I hadn't enough strength left to lift the article but I dragged it
casually down and let it fall gently upon the gentleman's forehead,
which was beneath me. As the catsup, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar
slowly trickled into his eyes he gently drew me towards him and
whispered, "I've had enough."
He anticipated me by just a second!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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