Ernest Bracebridge | Page 3

he beat nearly everybody.
His chief rival was Miles Lemon, who could perform most of the
exercises he could, and did some of them better. Lemon was not so
strong as Blackall, but he had a more correct eye, and a calmer temper;
both very important qualifications, especially in most athletic exercises.

He was, in consequence, a better cricketer, and a still better fencer.
Even at the broadsword exercise, although at first it might appear that
Blackall was far superior to Miles, the latter had more than once given
proof that it was hard work for any one to gain a victory over him.
Blackall's great fault was a strong inclination to bully. He was a tyrant,
and utterly indifferent to the feelings of others. If he wanted a thing
done, he did not consider what trouble and annoyance it might give
others, but, confiding in his strength, he made all the smaller boys do
what he wanted. If they refused, he thrashed them till they promised to
obey him. He was a great talker, and a never-ceasing boaster of what he
had done, and of what he could do and would do. As he certainly could
do many of the things he talked about, it was believed that he could do
everything. Some believed in him, but others did not. Such a person
was, however, sure to have a number of followers and ardent admirers,
who quoted him on all occasions,--stuck by him through thick or thin,
right or wrong, and looked upon him as one of the finest fellows in
existence.
Among the most constant of his followers was Robert Dawson--Bobby
Dawson he was always called. He was not a badly inclined little fellow,
but he had no confidence in himself, and, consequently, wanted to lean
on somebody else. Unfortunately he chose Blackall as his supporter.
Among the smaller boys who aspired to be considered something above
the common was Tommy Bouldon. He was a determined, independent
little fellow. He was very active, and could perform more feats of
activity than any other boy of his size. He was a fair cricketer, and was
sometimes chosen by some of the bigger fellows to play in their
matches. This made Tommy rather cocky at times; but he was a
good-natured chap, and managed to live on good terms with everybody.
Tommy, like Blackall, was rather apt to boast of what he had done, or
he purposed doing; but in one respect he was different;--he never
exaggerated in his descriptions of his past exploits, and seldom failed to
perform whatever he undertook to do.
The boys I have described were among the many who were exercising

away with all their might and main on the gymnastic poles.
Blackall was going up a ladder hand over hand, without using his feet,
while Lemon was swarming up a pole. When they reached the top,
giddy as was the height, they crossed each other and descended, one by
the pole and the other by the rope, head foremost; then, without
stopping, each climbed on some horizontal bars.
Lemon first hung by his hands to the bar he had seized, and then he
drew himself up until his chest touched the bar; then, lowering himself,
he passed one of his feet through his hands, and hitched his knee over
the bar; then he swung backwards, and came up sitting on the bar with
one leg; it was easy enough to draw the other leg after him. Throwing
himself off, he caught the bar again by his hands, and curled his body
over it.
"That's all very fine," exclaimed Blackall, who had been sitting on a bar
observing him; "but, old fellow, can you do this?"
Blackall, as he spoke, threw himself off the bar, grasping it with both
hands; then he passed the left knee through the right arm, so as to let
the knee rest in the elbow; then he passed the right knee over the instep
of the left foot, and letting go his left hand, he grasped his right foot
with it. Thus he hung, suspended by his right hand, and coiled up like a
ball. After hanging thus for a couple of minutes, he caught the bar by
his other hand, and, uncoiling himself, brought his feet between his
arms and allowed them to drop till they nearly touched the ground.
Then he turned back the same way. Once more lifting himself up, he
threw his legs over the bar, and dropping straight down, hung by his
bent knees, with his head towards the ground. A little fellow passing at
the moment, he called him, and lifted him off the ground; a feat which
called forth the loud applause of all his admirers. This excited him to
further efforts, and he was