Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/32



"An accident," said I, apologetically.

"You're a liar!" he rejoined; "you did it a purpose."

I never was remarkable for prudence at any time, or I should have been more cautious on the present occasion. But the insulting words of the stranger made my young blood boil, until I felt its heat in my face. Without regard to consequences, and ere the words had fairly escaped his lips, I struck him a blow in the face, so violent that he fell back upon the ground.

"Another fight!" cried a dozen voices at once : " Another fight! hurrah!"

In a moment I regretted what I had done, but it was too late. I would have escaped, but the crowd had now formed around me so dense, that escape was im possible. Besides, my antagonist, regain ing his feet, his face covered with blood, was now advancing upon me furiously. There was no alternative; and watching my opportunity as he came up, I dexter ously planted the second blow exactly where I had the first, and down he went

again.

"A trump, by

!" " Give it to

him, stranger!" " He's a few!" were some of the expressions which greeted me from the delighted bystanders.

But I had a short time to enjoy my tri umph if such a display of animal powers may be termed a triumph for the next moment I beheld my adversary again ap proaching, but more warily than before, and evidently better prepared for the com bat. I was not considered a bad pugilist for one of my age, nor did I in general fear one of my race; but as I gazed upon my advancing foe, I will be frank to own that I trembled for the result. He was a pow erfully built man, six feet in stature, had a tremendous arm, and an eye that would quail lefore nothing mortal.

"By! young chap," he exclaimed,

as he came up, " you've done what nobody else has of latter years. Take that, and see how you'll like it; " and with the word be threw all his strength into a blow, that fell like a sledge hammer.

I saw it, and prepared to ward it. I did so, partially, but its force broke my guard, and his double-jointed fist alighting upon my head, staggered me back and brought me to my knees. With all the suppleness

I was master of, I sprang to my feet, only to receive another blow, which laid me out upon the flinty pavement. For a moment I was stunned and confused; bul regain ing my senses and feet, I prepared to renew the contest.

"I say, stranger," said ray antagonist, motioning his hand for a parley, " you're good blood, but you haint got quite enough of the metal to cope with me. You're only a boy yit, and so just consider your self licked, and go home, afore I git can tankerous and hurt you a few."

But I was not in a condition to take his advice. True, I was bruised and fatigued, and should have rested satisfied to let the affair end thus. But my worst passions had now got the better of my reasoning powers. I fancied I had been insulted, disgraced, and that nothing but victory or death could remove the stigma. I saw some of the spectators smile, and some look pityingly upon me, and this decidee my course of action. My temper rose, my eyes flashed, and my cheeks burned, as I thought of the insulting words of the other.

"Some men live by bullying," I replied, pointedly; " and I suppose you are one of them; if not, you will keep your advice till one of us is the victor."

My opponent looked upon me with a mingled expression of surprise and rage-

"Fool!" he cried, "do you dare mo

again to the fight? By! I'll whip

you this time or die!"

"Make your words good," I retorted, springing forward, and pretending to aim a blow at his head.

He prepared to ward it, and, in doing so, left his abdomen unguarded. He saw his mistake, but too late to retrieve it; for instead of striking with my fist, I only made a feint, and doubling with great dex terity, took him with my nead just below the pit of the stomach, and hurled him over backward upon the ground. He threw out his hand, caught me as he fell,, and drew me upon him.

Now came the contest in earnest. I had a slight advantage in being uppermost , but how long it would last was doubtful , for throwing his arms around, he strove to turn me. I seized him by the throat, and clung there with the tenac