The art of boxing may be world-wide in its present application, but the
English taught the world this and many other sports. At the period
under consideration offence and defence were mostly conducted with
lethal weapons. The rapidity of a straight left, followed by a swift
upper cut, therefore had its advantage at the outset of a contest. Two
burly Nubians lay sprawling, from the process, over the body of the
sinister white man. The debauched Englishman, knowing more of the game,
and realising his own incapacity against this young giant, skirmished at
a safe distance in the rear.
The game was too hot to last long, for "the English arrogant pride" to
which the sinister white man had alluded, would not allow Sir Henry to
run away. Instead, he drawled: "Are there any more?"
Yes, indeed, there were many more, and this time he was more securely
seized, and the struggle appeared hopeless. These Orientals and
debauched Europeans hunted in packs. An Englishman on a spree needs
only a companion to join in the fun, and does not want a bodyguard.
Sir Henry was tiring, and almost overpowered, when the thought of his
chum, Mountjoy, flashed through the brain that lay behind his bruised
and half-battered head. For the first time in that inferno, there rose
from lusty lungs, a hearty "Yoicks! Tally ho?" the musical call of the
English hunting field.
The effect was immediate. Through one of those curtained doorways, past
a Nubian who had been left in charge by those more actively engaged in
the fray, there rushed a whirling ball of lithe humanity, charging for
his goal as he had never charged before on the Rugby football field.
It was Mountjoy, late half-back of his school--Marlborough.
Staggered by the impetus of this fierce and sudden onslaught, the
Nubians relaxed their hold on Sir Henry for a moment. "Back to back,
Harry," called Mountjoy. "Now, then, both together! There may be some
more of our fellows here!"
Then their two voices rose in approximate unison, "Yoicks! Tally ho!"
and the unequal fight began again.
At this period the tactics of boxing were unfamiliar and quite
disconcerting for a while.
"Make for the door, Harry," shouted Mountjoy, and bit by bit they
reached the exit, as, in response to a "view hallo" two more Englishmen
rushed through to the rescue.
The mixed gang of Arabs, Nubians, and European scallawags did not want
to kill at first, but these reinforcements of hated "Ingleesi" struck
panic into them, and, in a flash, four or five knives were buried into
these last two men, who had so bravely responded to the call of their
countrymen in these hideous surroundings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account