"Wait," said I, "the advantage usually lies with the last
thrower, it would be fairer to you were we to toss for it."
"No," answered Black George, motioning the onlookers to stand
back, "I've got th' 'ammer, and I'll throw first."
Now, as probably every one knows, it is one thing to swing a
sledge-hammer in the ordinary way but quite another to throw it
any distance, for there is required, beside the bodily strength,
a certain amount of knowledge, without which a man is necessarily
handicapped. Thus, despite my opponent's great strength of arm,
I was fairly sanguine of the result.
Black George took a fresh grip upon the hammer-shaft, twirled it
lightly above his head, swung it once, twice, thrice--and let it
go.
With a shout, Job and two or three others ran down the road to
mark where it had fallen, and presently returned, pacing out the
distance.
"Fifty-nine!" they announced.
"Can 'ee beat that?" inquired Black George complacently.
"I think I can," I answered as, taking up the hammer, I, in turn,
stepped into the ring. Gripping the shaft firmly, I whirled it
aloft, and began to swing it swifter and swifter, gaining greater
impetus every moment, till, like a flash, it flew from my grasp.
Panting, I watched it rise, rise, rise, and then plunge down to
earth in a smother of dust.
"'E've beat it!" cried the Ancient, flourishing his stick
excitedly. "Lord love me, 'e've beat it!"
"Ay, 'e've beat it, sure-ly," said a man who carried a rake that
was forever getting in everybody's way.
"An' by a goodish bit to!" shouted another.
"Ah! but Jarge aren't got 'is arm in yet," retorted a third;
"Jarge can do better nor that by a long sight!"
But now all voices were hushed as Job paced up.
"Eighty-two!" he announced. Black George looked hard at me, but,
without speaking, stepped sulkily into the ring, moistened his
palms, looked at me again, and seizing the hammer, began to whirl
it as he had seen me. Round and round it went, faster and
faster, till, with a sudden lurch, he hurled it up and away.
Indeed it was a mighty throw! Straight and strong it flew,
describing a wide parabola ere it thudded into the road.
The excitement now waxed high, and many started off to measure
the distance for themselves, shouting one to another as they
went. As for the smith, he stood beside me, whistling, and I saw
that the twinkle was back in his eyes again.