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Kilter, who lived at Green Castle, and could throw a stone weighing
twenty pounds to a greater height than the highest tower of the castle.
These three men, Kilter, Bray, and Gromane, were Cornishmen by birth,
and did honour to their county.
The other seconds were brutal fellows, with broad backs, bowed legs,
knotted fists, dull faces; ragged, fearing nothing, nearly all
jail-birds.
Many of them understood admirably how to make the police drunk. Each
profession should have its peculiar talents.
The field chosen was farther off than the bear garden, where they
formerly baited bears, bulls, and dogs; it was beyond the line of the
farthest houses, by the side of the ruins of the Priory of Saint Mary
Overy, dismantled by Henry VIII. The wind was northerly, and biting; a
small rain fell, which was instantly frozen into ice. Some gentlemen
present were evidently fathers of families, recognized as such by their
putting up their umbrellas.
On the side of Phelem-ghe-Madone was Colonel Moncreif, as umpire; and
Kilter, as second, to support him on his knee.
On the side of Helmsgail, the Honourable Pughe Beaumaris was umpire,
with Lord Desertum, from Kilcarry, as bottle-holder, to support him on
his knee.
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