fering no resistance. When the giant
woodsman returned after hastening their departure, he was faced by the
young man, still defiant. Connick cocked his head humorously and looked
down on the engineer. Under all the big man's apparent fierceness there
had been a flash of rough jocoseness in his tones at times. Parker saw
plainly that he and his followers viewed the whole thing as a "lark,"
and entertained little respect for their adversaries.

"Connick, I warn you--" Parker began; but the giant chuckled, and said,
tauntingly:

"'Cluck, cluck!' said the bear.

"I want to say to you, sir, that you are dealing with a large
proposition if you propose to interfere with this railroad property. My
backers--"

"'Bow-wow!' said the fish." The woodsman cried the taunt more
insolently, and yet with a jeering joviality that irritated Parker more
than downright abuse would have done.

He started toward his engine, but Connick put out his big arm to
interpose.

"Poodle," he said, "I've got a place for you. I'm the champion
dog-catcher of the West Branch region." He reached for Parker's collar,
but Parker ducked under his arm, and as he came up struck out with
a force that sent the astonished giant reeling backward. Fury and
desperation were behind the blow.

"Wal, of all the--" gasped Connick, pushing back his cap and staring in
astonishment. His men laughed.

"I'll wring your neck, you bantam!" he bawled; and he came down on
Parker with a rush.

On that slippery surface the odds were with the defensive. Moreover,
Parker, having an athlete's confidence in his fists, suddenly responded
to the instincts of primordial man. He leaped lightly to one side,
caught the rushing giant's foot across his instep, and as Connick's
moccasined feet went out from under him, the young engineer struck him
behind the ear. He fell with a dismal thump of his head on the ice, and
lay without motion.

But Parker's panting triumph was shortlived. As he stood over the giant,
gallantly waiting for him to rise, he discovered that the rules of
scientific combat were not observed in the woods. A half-dozen brawny
woodsmen leaped upon him, seized him, threw him down, tied his arms and
legs with as little ceremony as if he were a calf, and tossed him upon
the ice-boat.

Connick had risen to a sitting posture, and viewed the struggle with
mutterings of wrath while he rubbed his bumped head.

He scrambled up as if to interfere, but as his antagonist