tired; the bowlers were changed and bowled till their arms ached; but

Dumkins and Podder remained unconquered. Did an elderly

gentleman essay to stop the progress of the ball, it rolled between his

legs or slipped between his fingers. Did a slim gentleman try to catch

it, it struck him on the nose, and bounded pleasantly off with

redoubled violence, while the slim gentleman's eyes filled with water,

and his form writhed with anguish. Was it thrown straight up to the

wicket, Dumkins had reached it before the ball. In short, when

Dumkins was caught out, and Podder stumped out, All-Muggleton

had notched some fifty-four, while the score of the Dingley Dellers was

as blank as their faces. The advantage was too great to be recovered.

In vain did the eager Luffey, and the enthusiastic Struggles, do all that

skill and experience could suggest, to regain the ground Dingley Dell

had lost in the contest - it was of no avail; and in an early period of

the winning game Dingley Dell gave in, and allowed the superior

prowess of All-Muggleton.

The stranger, meanwhile, had been eating, drinking, and talking,

without cessation. At every good stroke he expressed his satisfaction

and approval of the player in a most condescending and patronising

manner, which could not fail to have been highly gratifying to the

party concerned; while at every bad attempt at a catch, and every

failure to stop the ball, he launched his personal displeasure at the

head of the devoted individual in such denunciations as - 'Ah, ah! -

stupid' - 'Now, butter- fingers' - 'Muff' - 'Humbug' - and so forth -

ejaculations which seemed to establish him in the opinion of all

around, as a most excellent and undeniable judge of the whole art and

mystery of the noble game of cricket.

'Capital game - well played - some strokes admirable,' said the

stranger, as both sides crowded into the tent, at the conclusion of the

game.

You have played it, sir?' inquired Mr Wardle, who had been much

amused by his loquacity. 'Played it! Think I have - thousands of times

not here - West Indies - exciting thing - hot work - very.' 'It must be

rather a warm pursuit in such a climate,' observed Mr Pickwick.

Warm! - red hot - scorching - glowing. Played a match once - single

wicket - friend the colonel - Sir Thomas Blazo - who should get the

greatest number of runs. - Won the toss - first innings - seven o'clock

A.m. - six natives to look out - went in; kept in - heat intense - natives

all fainted - taken away - fresh half-dozen ordered - fainted also -

Blazo bowling - supported by two natives - couldn't bowl me out -

fainted too - cleared away the colonel - wouldn't give in - faithful

attendant - Quanko Samba - last man left - sun so hot, bat in blisters,

ball scorched brown - five hundred and seventy runs - rather

The Pickwick Papers