It must not, however, be supposed that I gained the enviable situation of Poor Jack until I had been some time on the beach.  There are competitors for every place, even the most humble; and there was no want of competitors for this office among the many idle boys who frequented the beach.  When I first plied there, I was often pushed away by those who were older and stronger than myself, with a “Go along with you!  He’s not poor Jack—­I’m poor Jack, your honor.”  This, at first, I submitted to; taking my chance for a stray halfpenny, which was occasionally thrown to me, trusting to my activity in being the first down to the boat, or to my quickness in a scramble.  I never quarreled with the other boys, for I was remarkable for my good temper.  The first idea I had of resistance was from oppression.  One of the boys, who was older and taller than myself, attempted to take away a sixpence which I had gained in a scramble.  Before that, I had not resented being pushed away, or even when they threw water or mud at me; but this was an act of violence which I could not put up with:  the consequence was a fight; in which, to my surprise (for I was not aware of my strength), as well as to the surprise of the bystanders, I proved victorious, beating my opponent until he reeled into the water, following him up until he tumbled, and then holding his head down in the mud until he was almost stifled.  I then allowed him to get up, and he went home crying to his mother.  For this feat I was rewarded with the plaudits of the old pensioners and others who were looking on, and with a shilling which was thrown to me from the window of the inn.  Ben the Whaler, who had witnessed the fray, told me, the next day, that I handled my fists remarkably well, and that I had but to keep a higher guard and I should fight well.  He was an old pugilist himself, and he gave me a few directions which I did not forget.  I soon had occasion to put them into practice; for, two days afterward, another boy, bigger than myself, as I was plying as “Poor Jack,” pushed me back so hard that I fell off the steps into the deep water, and there was a general laugh against me.  I did not care for the ducking, but the laugh I could not bear:  as soon as I gained the steps again, I rushed upon him and threw him off, and he fell into the wherry, and, as it afterward appeared, he strained his back very much; nevertheless he came out to thrash me; and this time it was a regular fight, as the pensioners and watermen interfered, taking us both up on the higher ground, and seeing that it was fair play.  Ben the Whaler acted as my second, and we set to.  The boy was too powerful for me, had it not been for the hurt he had received and the instructions I obtained from Ben every time that I sat on his knee between each round.  Still it was a very hard fight, and I was terribly beaten; but I could not give up, for so many betted upon my winning, and Ben told me, at the end of every round, that if