3.—Pearce threw in a blow at his opponent’s head, which fell short. Gully hit out and dropped. 4.—Pearce stood up with a smile of confidence on his brow. Both combatants struck at once, and both hits were well stopped, but Gully fell. 5.—Pearce put in a heavy blow in the neck, and brought down his opponent. 6.—Pearce put in two good hits right and left, and brought Gully down once more. (Odds now rose to ten to two on the Chicken). 7.—Immediately on setting-to Pearce knocked down his opponent. 8.—Much sparring, Pearce put in a hit; Gully parried in style, and returned with a knock down blow; Pearce fell for the first time. Cheers for Gully, and cries, “They are both Bristol men.” 9.—Pearce appeared touched: he went in and knocked Gully down, then turning to his backers smiled in triumph. 10.—Gully struck out with spirit; Pearce stopped, and with a thump on the breast brought down Gully. 11.—Gully put in a neat hit, but the round terminated by the Chicken’s knocking him completely off his legs. 12.—Gully threw in a most severe blow, struck Pearce on the mouth, and brought him down. Cheers for Gully. 13.—In this round Gully displayed both good science and courage; he put in two good blows, but fell from the force of the last. 14.—Gully came up in good spirits, but the first blow of the Chicken’s knocked him off his legs. 15.—Both combatants struck, and both hits went home. Gully struck again and fell. 16.—Gully appeared rather shy, and fell without a blow being struck.[95] 17.—The best round during the battle, if not that ever was contested. Pearce seemed confident of beating his man, and stood up well. Gully rallied, and put in several good blows, which were returned by the Chicken without any stopping. Gully brought down his opponent, after having successfully planted two good hits on his left eye. This round was undoubtedly greatly in Gully’s favour, and the odds fell, bets being now six to four on the Chicken. 18.—No fighting. Pearce bled profusely, and Gully slipped while making play. 19.—Another excellent round. Gully rallied; Pearce returned; and after some good blows they closed, and both fell.