Have you no one in Boston brave enough ?" "I will," a voice cried at this moment.

All turned at the sound, for the voice was deep and commanding, sounding like the boom of a cannon.
This stranger to all assembled on the Common was most singularly armed and equipped for a fight.

On his left arm, wrapped in a linen cloth, was a large cheese for a shield, while he carried, instead of a sword, a mop dipped in muddy water.
"Who is he ?" "Some madman." "Beware of him, and allow him not to go on the stage," cried another.
But the stranger, with an agility not to be expected in one of his years, sprang upon the platform.

The fencing-master evidently thought he had an easy victory, for a smile curled his lip, as he asked: "Are you ready ?" "Yes," was the answer.
"Guard!" He sprang at the fencing-master, who made a thrust at him, burying the point of his sword in the cheese, where the white-haired man held it, while he smeared the face of his opponent with the mud on his mop.
[Illustration: "ARE YOU READY ?"] "Zounds! master what are you about ?" cried the fencing-master.
"Marry! I am teaching you new tactics." Releasing his sword, the fencing-master ran to the other end of the platform and, seizing a broadsword, cried: "I will have it out with you with these." At this, the old man cried in a terrible voice: "Stop, sir! hitherto you see I have only played with you and done you no hurt; but if you come at me with the broadsword, I will take your life." The alarmed fencing-master cried out: "Who can you be?
You must be either Goffe, Whalley, or the devil, for there are no others in England who could beat me." In order to fully explain the meaning of the fencing-master's words, we beg leave to step aside from our story for a moment and recall some historical events which have a bearing upon it.

Of the judges who tried and condemned Charles I.three escaped to America.