Part 22 (1/2)

and the Gown following the scattered re Town, ran them round by All Saints' Church, and up the Turl Here another Town and Gown party had fought their way fro considerably the worst of the conflict, had taken refuge within Exeter College by the express order of the Senior Proctor, the Rev Thomas Tozer, more familiarly known as ”old Towzer” He had endeavoured to assert his proctorial authority over the

[152 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

us~ had not only scoffed and jeered hiown, and treated his velvet sleeves with the indignity of mud; while the only fireworks which had been exhibited on that evening had been let off in his very face Pushed on, and hustled by the s, he was saved fronity by the arrival of a small knot of Gownsmen, who rushed to his rescue Their nuainst the mob, and the best that they could do was to cover the Proctor's retreat Now, the Rev Thoh not wanting for courage, yet the exertion of defending himself from a superior force, was not only a fruitless one, but was, moreover, productive of , therefore, that discretion was the better part of valour, he fled (like those who tended, or ~ought~ to have attended to, the flocks of Mr Norval, Sen)

”for safety and for succour;”

and, being rather short of the necessary article of wind, by the tie, he had barely breath enough left to tell the porter to keep the gate shut until he had asse those daring ringleaders of the mob who had set his authority at defiance This was soon done; the call to arms was made, and every Exeter man as not already out, ran to ”old Towzer's” assistance

”Now, Porter,” said Mr Tozer, ”unbar the gate without noise, and I will look forth to observe the position of the mob Gentleleaders”

The porter undid the wicket, and the Rev Thomas Tozer cautiously put forth his head It was a rash act; for, no sooner had his nose appeared round the edge of the wicket, than it received a flattening blow froentleman, who, like a clever cricketer, had been on the lookout for an opportunity to get in to his adversary's wicket

”Oh, this is painful! this is very painful!” ejaculated Mr Tozer, as he rapidly drew in his head ”Close the wicket directly, porter, and keep it fast” It was like closing the gates of Hougoed Mr Tozer's nose threw hiainst the wicket, his comrades assisted hi the Proctor's orders

---The Marshal is the Proctor's chief officer The naiven to the two inferior officers who attend the Proctor in his nightly rounds

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 153]

”Oh, this is painful!” murmured the Rev Tho nose; ”this is painful, this is very painful! this is exceedingly painful, gentle undergraduates, who begged hie the Town; but ”old Towzer's” spirit seenity to which he had been forced so publicly to sub> had ceased, he would lead theeous resolve, and was echoed from without by the derisive applause of the Town

When Mr Tozer's nose had ceased to bleed, the signal was given for the gates to be thrown open; and out rushed Proctor, Marshal, Bull-dogs, and undergraduates The Toas in great force, and the fight became desperate To the credit of the Town, be it said, they discarded bludgeons and stones, and fought, in John Bull fashi+on, with their fists Scarcely a stick was to be seen Singling out his man, Mr Tozer s, and a sown and velvet sleeves were a grievous hindrance to the Proctor's prowess; and, although supported on either side by his two attendant Bull-dogs yet

[154 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

the weight of his robesof Bohehts at the battle of Crecy; and, as each of the party had to look to, and fight for himself, the Senior Proctor soon found himself in an aard predicament

The cry of ”Gown to the rescue!” therefore, fell pleasantly on his ears; and the reinforcement headed by Mr Charles Larkyns and his party, materially improved the aspect of affairs on the side of Gown

Knocking down a cowardly felloas using his heavy-heeled boots on the body of a prostrate undergraduate, Mr Blades, closely followed by the Pet, dashed in to the Proctor's assistance; and never in a Town and Goas assistance more timely rendered; for the Rev

Thomas Tozer had just received his first knock-down blow! By the help of Mr Blades the fallen chieftain was quickly replaced upon his legs; while the Pet stepped before hiht and left Ten ilism, and the fate of the battle was decided The Town fled every way; soe; some up the Turl towards Trinity; soe, and Market Street

A few of the more resolute made a stand in Broad Street; but it was of no avail; and they received a sound punishment at the hands of the Gown, on the spot, where, some three centuries before, certain mitred Gownsmen had bravely suffered martyrdom

Now, the Rev Thoh he had so materially benefited by the Pet's assistance, yet, when he perceived that that pugilistic gentleman was not possessed of the full complement of acaderatitude of the Man; and, with all the sternness of an ancient Roown, sir?”

”I ax your pardon, guv'nor!” replied the Pet, deferentially; ”I didn't so much care about the mortar-board, but I couldn't do nothin'

nohoith t'other thing, so I pocketted hied him, for he ain't here”

”I ae, sir,”