%images;]> lchtml-002404 Third round. ...: a machine readable transcription. Lewis Carroll Scrapbook, Library of Congress Selected and converted. American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, DC, 2003.

Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.

For more information about this text and this American Memory collection, refer to accompanying matter.

 Rare Book & Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. Public Domain

The National Digital Library Program at the Library of Congress makes digitized historical materials available for education and scholarship.

This transcription is intended to have an accuracy rate of 99.95 percent or greater and is not intended to reproduce the appearance of the original work. The accompanying images provide a facsimile of this work and represent the appearance of the original.

 2004/05/17
0001

3rd Round. The clamour on both sides became deafening, and a miss of “Bill's” gave rise to the following choice dialogue. “He's a pretty one for a champion, he can't hit, he can't.” “That he can. You shut up! he'll show you precious quick.” “I tell you, he can't then.” Fortunately the growing darkness put a stop to further proceedings for that day.

It is hardly possible to express any opinion as to the chances. Both men are in high condition and full of spirits and confidence. “Bill” relies mainly on the old-fashioned straightforward knock-down blow, being innocent of much further science: but his arm though very heavy is short, and his want of reach will be a great difficulty. On the other hand “The Miller” has studied the art of self-defence, as practised by nearly every nation under the sun, from the Zulu Kaffirs to the Scandinavian Sea-Kings, and he has a curious collection of antique weapons, especially those used in ancient India. But as the latter are clearly inadmissible in such a mill as the present, many of the knowing ones think that his superior science will prove rather a drawback, especially as by a peculiar interpretation of the rules of the Ring, no hitting is to be allowed except the old-fashioned, sledge- hammer style, in which it is thought that the superior length of the “Miller's” reach will hardly compensate for the ponderous gravity of his opponent.

Large crowds are expected to assemble to witness the final rounds, and it is not unlikely that when the excitement reaches its height, the adherents of both combatants will break through all restraints, and the strongest party will carry off the prize for their man, by sheer force of numbers.