Page:Tom Brown's School Days (6th ed).djvu/76



OOR old Benjy! The "rheumatiz" has much to answer for all through English countrysides, but it never played a scurvier trick than in laying thee by the heels when thou was yet in a green old age. The enemy, which had long been carrying on a sort of border warfare, and trying his strength against Benjy's on the battle-field of his hands and legs, now, mustering all his forces, began laying siege to the citadel and overrunning the whole country. Benjy was seized in the back and loins; and though he made strong and brave fight, it was soon clear enough that all which could be beaten of poor old Benjy would have to give in before long.

It was as much as he could do now, with the help of his big stick and frequent stops, to hobble down to the canal with Master Tom, and bait his hook for him, and sit and watch his angling, telling him quaint old country stories; and when Tom had no