K. now comes forward, and pats his ‘fancy man’ on the back.  The two wrestlers thereupon shake hands, and then in the usual manner both warily move backwards and forwards, till amid cries from the onlookers, the blacksmith makes a sudden dash at the practised old player, and in a moment has him round the waist.

He evidently depended on his superior strength.  For a moment he fairly lifted Roopnarain clean off his legs, swayed him to and fro, and with a mighty strain tried to throw him to the ground.  Bending to the notes, Roopnarain allowed himself to yield, till his feet touched the ground, then crouching like a panther, he bounded forward, and getting his leg behind that of the blacksmith, by a deft side twist he nearly threw him over.  The little fellow, however, steadied himself on the ground with one hand, recovered his footing, and again had the Brahmin firmly locked in his tenacious hold.  Roopuarain did not like the grip.  These were not the tactics he was accustomed to.  While the other tugged and strained, he, quietly yielding his lithe lissome frame to every effort, tried hard with obstinate endeavour to untwist the hands that held him firmly locked.  It was beautiful play to see the mute hands of both the wrestlers feeling, tearing, twisting at each other, but the grasp was too firm, and, taking advantage of a momentary movement, Roopnarain got his elbow under the other’s chin, then leaning forward, he pressed his opponent’s head backward, and the strain began to tell.  He fought fiercely, he struggled hard, but the determined elbow was not to be baulked, and to save himself from an overthrow the blacksmith was forced to relax his hold, and sprang nimbly back beyond reach, to mature another attack.  Roopnarain quietly walked round, rubbed his shoulders with earth, and with the same mocking smile, stood leaning forward, his hands on his knees, waiting for a fresh onset.

This time the young fellow was more cautious.  He found he had no novice to deal with, and the Brahmin was not at all anxious to precipitate matters.  By a splendid feint, after some pretty sparring for a grip, the youngster again succeeded in getting a hold on the Brahmin, and wheeling round quick as lightning, got behind Roopnarain, and with a dexterous trip threw the tall man heavily on his face.  He then tried to get him by the ankle, and bending his leg up backwards, he would have got a purchase for turning him on his back.  The old man was, however, ‘up to this move.’  He lay extended flat on his chest, his legs wide apart.  As often as the little one bent down to grasp his ankle, he would put out a hand stealthily, and silently as a snake, and endeavour to get the little man’s leg in his grasp.  This necessitated a change of position, and round and round they spun, each trying to get hold of the other by the leg or foot.  The blacksmith got his knee on the neck of the Brahmin, and by sheer strength tried several times with a mighty heave to turn his