After a minute the chairman’s brother, who didn’t seem to have much scruple about these sports, jumped up on the stage, and blew an old French hunting-horn, till the young ones began to laugh; and then told the men not to be afraid to come up, for if they didn’t begin at once there wouldn’t be light to play out the ties. At last there was a stir amongst the knot of Somersetshire men, who stood together at one corner of the stage; and one of them, stepping up, pitched on to it his stumpy black hat, and then climbed up after it himself, spoke a word to the umpires, and began handling the sticks, to choose one which balanced to his mind, while the umpires proclaimed, “An old gamester wanted, to play with John Bunn of Wedmore.” “There he stands, you see,” said Master George, who was close by me, though I hadn’t seen him before, “the only remaining representative of the old challenger at tourneys ready to meet all comers. He ought to have a herald to spout out his challenge in verse. Why not?” “I don’t know what he could say more than the umpire has, Sir,” said I. “He might blow his own trumpet at any rate,” said he; “somehow thus;” and he repeated, after a false start or two,-- THE ZONG OF THE ZUMMERZETSHIRE OWLD GEAMSTER. I. “Cham[32] a Zummerzetshire mun Coom her to hev a bit o’vun. Oo’lt[33] try a bout? I be’ant aveard Ov any man or mother’s zun. II. “Cham a geamster owld and tough, Well knowed droo all the country zide, And many a lusty Barkshire man To break my yead hev often tried. III. “Who’s vor a bout o vriendly plaay, As never should to anger move? Zich spwoorts wur only meaned vor thaay As likes their mazzards broke for love.” John Bunn looked by no means a safe man to play with. He stood about five feet eleven, with spare long muscular limbs, a sallow complexion, and thick shock head of black hair,--a good defence in itself against any common blow of a stick. But now that the ice was broken, his challenge was soon answered; and George Gregory, of Stratton, one of the best mowers in the Vale, appeared to uphold the honour of Berks and Wilts. He stood half a head shorter than his opponent, but was, probably, the stronger man of the two, and had a sturdy and confident look, which promised well, and was fair-haired, and, like David, ruddy to look upon. [Illustration] While they were taking off coats and waistcoats, and choosing sticks, two wrestlers got up on the stage, and showed the shoes in which they were going to wrestle to the umpires, for approval; and stood at the ropes, ready to begin as soon as the first bout at backsword was over. The crowd drew a long breath, while Bunn and Gregory came forward, shook hands; and then throwing up their guards, met in the middle of the stage.