about 100 to 1 against Thornbury, and the certainty came off on that occasion; for Mr. Williams and his hopeful lot were ignominiously defeated. With more pluck than judgment, and doubtless to encourage his disheartened eleven, Mr. Williams said at the conclusion of the match:
"The result was a piece of luck. My lot could play the same team any day, and I should not mind putting twenty-five pounds on the result."
"Do you mean it?" said the captain of the Bristol.
"I do!" said Mr. Williams; and the match was fixed for a fortnight later, the first week in October.
My father was told of the match, and blamed both Henry and uncle for allowing it to be made, and considered it was nothing short of robbery. They said they had nothing to do with the making of it, and had not a sixpence on the result. My father, however, did not like the look of matters, and said he would play for Thornbury and pay part of the money.
" Understand now and for good, you boys," said he, "I shall not allow you in future to take part in any match which is played for money, as it is introducing a form of gambling into the game, which is wrong and must do harm to it."
Mr. Williams turned up on the appointed date. The Bristol team was even stronger than on the first occasion, and could not keep from laughing at the team opposed to them. Mr. Williams and my father chatted together, without the slightest sign of dismay on their faces. The remainder of the Thornbury eleven were nearly all strangers, and hardly one of them had been seen in a good match before.
Some of the Bristol eleven suggested to their captain that the money should be posted before the match commenced. He had no intention of proceeding to that extremity; but the spirit of mischief prevailing was too
