42 Semi-drunk .............................

31 So far it was impossible to foresee the end.

It was anybody's game.
Crass became so excited that he absentmindedly opened his mouth and shot his second pint down into his stomach with a single gulp, and Bundy also drained his glass and called upon Philpot and Easton to drink up and have another, which they accordingly did.
While the Semi-drunk was having his next innings, the Besotted Wretch placed a penny on the counter and called for a half a pint, which he drank in the hope of steadying his nerves for a great effort.

His opponent meanwhile threw the rings at the board and missed it every time, but all the same he scored, for one ring, after striking the partition about a foot above the board, fell down and caught on the hook.
The other man now began his innings, playing very carefully, and nearly every ring scored.

As he played, the others uttered exclamations of admiration and called out the result of every throw.
'One!' 'One again!' 'Miss! No! Got 'im! Two!' 'Miss!' 'Miss!' 'Four!' The Semi-drunk accepted his defeat with a good grace, and after explaining that he was a bit out of practice, placed a shilling on the counter and invited the company to give their orders.