Now listen again:
"'Some men is this an' some is that,
But 'ere's a truth I know:
A fightin' cove who's run to fat
Is bound t' puff an' blow!'
"An' there's for ye again!"
Saying which, the Old Un nodded ferociously and proceeded to light his
fragmentary pipe. During this colloquy Ravenslee had laid by his shabby
clothes and now appeared clad and shod for the ring.
"Sir," said Joe, taking a set of gloves from a locker, "if you are ready
to box a round or so--"
"Why, no," answered Ravenslee, "I don't want to box to-day, Joe."
"Eh?" said Joe, staring, "not?"
"I want to fight, Joe."
"To--fight, sir?" repeated Joe.
"Fight?" cried the Old Un rapturously. "Oh, music--sweet music t' me old
ears! Fight? Oh, j'yful words! What's the old song say?
"''Appy is the first as goes
To black a eye or punch a nose!'"
"Get the mufflers on, Joe; get 'em on an' don't stand staring like a
fool!"
"But, sir," said Joe, his mild eyes kindling, "d' ye mean as you
want--the real thing?"
"To-day," said Ravenslee, "instead of boxing a round or two with Joe
Madden, my chauffeur and mechanic, I want to see how long I can stand up
to Joe Madden, undefeated champion of the world.
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