How neat and pure is the task of the chronicler who has the tale to tell of a "good rousing fight" between boys or men who fight in the "good old English way," according to a model set for fights in books long before Tom Brown went to Rugby.

There are seconds and rounds and rules of fair-play, and always there is great good feeling in the end--though sometimes, to vary the model, "the Butcher" defeats the hero--and the chronicler who stencils this fine old pattern on his page is certain of applause as the stirrer of "red blood." There is no surer recipe.
But when Herman and Verman set to 't the record must be no more than a few fragments left by the expurgator.

It has been perhaps sufficiently suggested that the altercation in Mr.Schofield's stable opened with mayhem in respect to the aggressor's nose.

Expressing vocally his indignation and the extremity of his pained surprise, Mr.Collins stepped backward, holding his left hand over his nose, and striking at Herman with his right.

Then Verman hit him with the rake.
Verman struck from behind.