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Rh big brother, would ye?" His good nature broke out again. "By the Lord, a chip o' the old linkumvity block! Ho, ho, ho! I 'll give ye credit fer that, buster!"

And he would have clapped Marden on the shoulder—but did not.

"What's the use of manhandlin' each other over half a longneck?" he sneered genially. "'T wan't no better 'n rot-gut, anyhow, an' the' 's lots more where that come from. Ye see," he added with a face and a voice of great candor, "I don't bear no malice. A word and a blow, as the old sayin' is, an' all right again. That's my style. I like yer spirit, lad, I tell you.—Oh, well, if ye want to be sulky, sail ahead, and have yer own way!"

He went over to the big chair, slumped into it once more, lighted his pipe, and spat on the stove. But he was too well pleased with his magnanimity to stay silent long, for presently he began to hum, or rather grumble:—