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her own people； as she called them； but there was another small
party of Romans； with whom she soon became very intimate。 It so
happened that this small party got into trouble； whether it was
about a horse or an ass； or passing bad money； no matter to you and
me； who had no hand in the business； three or four of them were
taken and lodged in … Castle； and amongst them was a woman； but the
sherengro； or principal man of the party； and who it seems had most
hand in the affair； was still at large。 All of a sudden a rumour
was spread abroad that the woman was about to play false； and to
'peach the rest。 Said the principal man； when he heard it； 〃If she
does； I am nashkado。〃 Mrs。 Herne was then on a visit to the party；
and when she heard the principal man take on so； she said； 〃But I
suppose you know what to do？〃 〃I do not；〃 said he。 〃Then hir mi
devlis；〃 said she； 〃you are a fool。 But leave the matter to me； I
know how to dispose of her in Roman fashion。〃 Why she wanted to
interfere in the matter； brother； I don't know； unless it was from
pure brimstoneness of disposition … she had no hand in the matter
which had brought the party into trouble … she was only on a visit；
and it had happened before she came； but she was always ready to
give dangerous advice。 Well； brother； the principal man listened
to what she had to say； and let her do what she would； and she made
a pudding； a very nice one； no doubt … for； besides plums； she put
in drows and all the Roman condiments that she knew of； and she
gave it to the principal man； and the principal put it into a
basket and directed it to the woman in … Castle； and the woman in
the castle took it and … 〃
'Ate of it；' said I； 'just like my case！'
'Quite different； brother； she took it； it is true； but instead of
giving way to her appetite； as you might have done； she put it
before the rest whom she was going to impeach； perhaps she wished
to see how they liked it before she tasted it herself； and all the
rest were poisoned； and one died； and there was a precious outcry；
and the woman cried loudest of all； and she said； 〃It was my death
was sought for； I know the man； and I'll be revenged。〃 And then
the Poknees spoke to her and said； 〃Where can we find him？〃 and she
said； 〃I am awake to his motions； three weeks from hence； the night
before the full moon； at such and such an hour； he will pass down
such a lane with such a man。〃'
'Well；' said I； 'and what did the Poknees do？'
'Do； brother！ sent for a plastramengro from Bow Street； quite
secretly； and told him what the woman had said； and the night
before the full moon； the plastramengro went to the place which the
juwa had pointed out； all alone； brother； and in order that he
might not be too late； he went two hours before his time。 I know
the place well； brother； where the plastramengro placed himself
behind a thick holly tree； at the end of a lane； where a gate leads
into various fields； through which there is a path for carts and
horses。 The lane is called the dark lane by the Gorgios； being
much shaded by trees。 So the plastramengro placed himself in the
dark lane behind the holly tree； it was a cold February night；
dreary though； the wind blew in gusts； and the moon had not yet
risen； and the plastramengro waited behind the tree till he was
tired； and thought he might as well sit down； so he sat down； and
was not long in falling to sleep； and there he slept for some
hours； and when he awoke the moon had risen； and was shining
bright； so that there was a kind of moonlight even in the dark
lane； and the plastramengro pulled out his watch； and contrived to
make out that it was just two hours beyond the time when the men
should have passed by。 Brother； I do not know what the
plastramengro thought of himself； but I know； brother； what I
should have thought of myself in his situation。 I should have
thought； brother； that I was a drowsy scoppelo； and that I had let
the fellow pass by whilst I was sleeping behind a bush。 As it
turned out； however； his going to sleep did no harm； but quite the
contrary： just as he was going away； he heard a gate slam in the
direction of the fields； and then he heard the low stumping of
horses； as if on soft ground； for the path in those fields is
generally soft； and at that time it had been lately ploughed up。
Well； brother； presently he saw two men on horseback coming towards
the lane through the field behind the gate； the man who rode
foremost was a tall big fellow； the very man he was in quest of；
the other was a smaller chap； not so small either； but a light；
wiry fellow； and a proper master of his hands when he sees occasion
for using them。 Well； brother； the foremost man came to the gate；
reached at the hank； undid it； and rode through； holding it open
for the other。 Before； however； the other could follow into the
lane； out bolted the plastramengro from behind the tree； kicked the
gate to with his foot； and； seizing the big man on horse…back； 〃You
are my prisoner；〃 said he。 I am of opinion； brother； that the
plastramengro； notwithstanding he went to sleep； must have been a
regular fine fellow。'
'I am entirely of your opinion；' said I； 'but what happened then？'
'Why； brother； the Rommany chal； after he had somewhat recovered
from his surprise； for it is rather uncomfortable to be laid hold
of at night…time； and told you are a prisoner； more especially when
you happen to have two or three things on your mind which； if
proved against you； would carry you to the nashky； … the Rommany
chal； I say； clubbed his whip； and aimed a blow at the
plastramengro； which； if it had hit him on the skull； as was
intended； would very likely have cracked it。 The plastramengro；
however； received it partly on his staff； so that it did him no
particular damage。 Whereupon； seeing what kind of customer he had
to deal with； he dropped his staff and seized the chal with both
his hands； who forthwith spurred his horse； hoping； by doing so；
either to break away from him or fling him down； but it would not
do … the plastramengro held on like a bull…dog； so that the Rommany
chal； to escape being hauled to the ground； suddenly flung himself
off the saddle； and then happened in that lane； close by the gate；
such a struggle between those two … the chal and the runner … as I
suppose will never happen again。 But you must have heard of it；
every one has heard of it； every one has heard of the fight between
the Bow Street engro and the Rommany chal。'
'I never heard of it till now。'
'All England rung of it； brother。 There never was a better match
than between those two。 The runner was somewhat the stronger of
the two … all those engroes are strong fellows … and a great deal
cooler； for all of that sort are wondrous cool people … he had；
however； to do with one who knew full well how to take his own
part。 The chal fought the engro； brother； in the old Roman
fashion。 He bit； he kicked； and screamed like a wild cat of
Benygant； casting foam from his mouth and fire from his eyes。
Sometimes he was beneath the engro's legs； and sometimes he was
upon his shoulders。 What the engro found the most difficult was to
get a firm hold of the chal； for no sooner did he seize the chal by
any part of his wearing apparel； than the chal either tore himself
away； or contrived to slip out of it； so that in a little time the
chal was three parts naked； and as for holding him by the body； it
was out of the question； for he was as slippery as an eel。 At last
the engro seized the chal by the Belcher's handkerchief； which he
wore in a knot round his neck； and do whatever the chal could； he
could not free himself； and when the engro saw that； it gave him
fresh heart； no doubt： 〃It's of no use；〃 said he； 〃you had better
give in； hold out your hands for the darbies； or I will throttle
you。〃
'And what did the other fellow do； who came with the chal？' said I。
'I sat still on my horse； brother。'
'You！' said I。 'Were you the man？'
'I was he； brother。'
'And why did you not help your comrade？'
'I have fought in the ring； brother。'
'And what had fighting in the ring to do with fighting in the
lane？'
'You mean not fighting。 A great deal； brother； it taught me to
prize fair play。 When I fought Staffordshire Dick； t'other side of
London； I was alone； brother。 Not a Rommany chal to back me； and
he had all his brother pals about him； but they gave me fair play；
brother； and I beat Staffordshire Dick； which I couldn't have done
had they put one finger on his side the scale； for he was as good a
man as myself； or nearly so。 Now； brother； had I but bent a finger
in favour of the Rommany chal； the plastramengro would never have
come alive out of the lane； but I did not；