The Dead Boxer stood with his arms folded, sometimes looking upon the crowd, and occasionally glaring at his young’ and fearless antagonist.  The latter immediately stripped, and when he “stood out erect and undaunted upon the stage, although his proportions were perfect, and his frame active and massy, yet when measured with the Herculean size of the Dead Boxer, he appeared to have no chance.

“Now,” said he to the black, “by what rules are we to fight?”

“If you consult me,” said the other, “perhaps it is best that every man should fight as he pleases.  You decide that.  I am the challenger.”

“Take your own way, then,” said O’Rorke; “but you have a secret, black—­do you intend to use it?”

“Certainly, young fellow.”

“I have my secret, too,” said Lamh Laudher; “an’ now I give you warning that I will put it in practice.”

“All fair; but we are losing time,” replied the man of color, putting himself in an attitude.  “Come on.”

Their seconds stood back, and both advanced to the middle of the stage.  The countenance of the black, and his huge chest, resembled rather a colossal statue of bronze, than the bust of a human being.  His eye gleamed at Lamh Laudher with baleful flashes of intense hatred.  The spectators saw, however, that the dimensions of Lamh Laudher gained considerably by his approximation to the black.  The dusky color of the Boxer added apparently to his size, whilst the healthful light which lay upon the figure of his opponent took away, as did his elegance, grace, and symmetry, from the uncommon breadth and fulness of his bust.

Several feints were made by the black, and many blows aimed, which Lamh Laudher, by his natural science and activity, parried; at length a blow upon the temple shot him to the boards with great violence, and the hearts of the spectators, which were all with him, became fearfully depressed.

O’Rorke, having been raised, shook his head as if to throw off the influence of the blow.  Neil afterwards declared that when coming to the second round, resentment and a sense of having suffered in the opinion of the multitude by the blow which brought him down, had strung his muscular power into such a state of concentration, that his arms became as hard as oak.  On meeting again he bounded at the Boxer, and by a single blow upon the eye-brow felled him like an ox.  So quickly was it sent home, that the black had not activity to guard against it; on seeing which, a short and exulting cheer rose from the multitude.  We are not now giving a detailed account of this battle, as if reporting it for a newspaper; it must suffice to say, that Lamh Laudher was knocked down twice, and the Dead Boxer four times, in as many rounds.  The black, on coming to the seventh round, laughed, whilst the blood trickled down his face.  His frame appeared actually agitated with inward glee, and indeed a more appalling species of mirth was never witnessed.