Page:A "Bawl" for American Cricket.djvu/32

I need not mind if I hire a pair of horses extra, next town, for I have lost money enough to pay for twenty pair or more.' Well thought I, as I rode along, you have rogues enough in your carriage now, if the truth were told, I'll answer for it; and one of them let out the secret some ten years after. But, sir, I can't help laughing when I tell you, once there was a single-wicket match played at Lord's, and a man on each side was paid to lose. One was bowler, and the other batsman, when the game came to a near point. I knew their politics, the rascals, and saw in a minute how things stood; and how I did laugh, to be sure: for seven balls together, one would not bowl straight, and the other would not hit; but at last a straight ball must come, and down went the wicket.'

From other information received, I could tell this veteran that, even in his much-repented Nottingham match, his was not the only side that had men resolved to lose. The match was sold for Nottingham too, and that with less success, for Nottingham won: an event the less difficult to accomplish, as Lord Frederick Beauclerk broke a finger in an attempt to stop a designed and wilful overthrow! and played the second innings with one hand.

It is true, Clarke, who played in the match, thought all was fair; still, he admits, he heard one Nottingham man accused on the field, by his own side, of foul play. This confirms the evidence of the Rev. C. W., no slight authority in Nottingham matches, who said he was cautioned before the match that all would not be fair.

'This practice of selling matches,' said Beldham, 'produced strange things sometimes. Once, I remember,