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144 that's all. I want you to keep your remarks to yourself."

"I'll say what I please."

"Not about me."

"Won't I? Who will stop me?"

"I will."

"Go and blab, I suppose?"

"No; I'm not of the blabbing kind."

"Do you mean to say you'll fight?"

"Perhaps I will."

"You whipper-snapper!" he cried in a rage. "Take that for a lesson!"

He struck out heavily, and had I not been on the alert I would have caught his fist on my nose and gone down. But I leaped to one side and his hand merely grazed my shoulder.

By this time my blood was up, and, leaping in, I landed one blow on his chest and another on his mouth, which latter drew blood and loosened two of his teeth. I had taken several lessons in the art of self-defense and these now stood me in good stead. My blows sent him staggering up against a gun, where he stood gazing at me in bewildered astonishment.

"Wha—what did you do that for?" he spluttered, spitting out some blood.

"I warned you to take care," I answered coolly.

"A mill! A mill!" cried half a dozen jack