shown that he was willing to work. And in proof that he was still
willing, and had profited by his maritime experience, he offered to
sweep the floor of the gymnasium then and there. This proposal
convinced the Skenes, who had listened to his story like children
listening to a fairy tale, that he was not too much of a gentleman
to do rough work, and it was presently arranged that he should
thenceforth board and lodge with them, have five shillings a week
for pocket-money, and be man-of-all-work, servant, gymnasium-
attendant, clerk, and apprentice to the ex-champion of England and
the colonies.

He soon found his bargain no easy one. The gymnasium was open from
nine in the morning until eleven at night, and the athletic
gentlemen who came there not only ordered him about without
ceremony, but varied the monotony of being set at naught by the
invincible Skene by practising what he taught them on the person of
his apprentice, whom they pounded with great relish, and threw
backwards, forwards, and over their shoulders as though he had been
but a senseless effigy, provided for that purpose. Meanwhile the
champion looked on and laughed, being too lazy to redeem his promise
of teaching the novice to defend himself. The latter, however,
watched the lessons which he saw daily given to others, and, before
the end of a month, he so completely turned the tables on the
amateur pugilists of Melbourne that Skene one day took occasion to
remark that he was growing uncommon clever, but that gentlemen liked
to be played easy with, and that he should be careful not to knock
them about too much. Besides these bodily exertions, he had to keep
account of gloves and foils sold and bought, and of the fees due
both to Mr. and Mrs. Skene. This was the most irksome part of his
duty; for he wrote a large, schoolboy hand, and was not quick at