hat he had been attacked by him, he
felt forbearance to be no virtue. Brute force could best conquer brute
nature. He felt that he would rather die a thousand deaths than be
conquered himself. He put forth all his strength in an effort that
awakened the crowd--which had speedily surrounded them, Owd Sammy among
the number--to wild admiration.

"Get thee unto it, lad," cried the old sinner in an ecstasy of
approbation, "Get thee unto it! Tha'rt shapin' reet I see. Why, I'm
dom'd," slapping his knee as usual--"I'm dom'd if he is na goin' to
mill Dan Lowrie!"

To the amazement of the by-standers, it became evident in a very short
time, that Lowrie had met his match. Finding it necessary to defend
himself, Derrick was going to do something more. The result was that
the breathless struggle for the mastery ended in a crash, and Lowrie lay
upon the pavement, Fergus Derrick standing above him pale, fierce and
panting.

"Look to him," he said to the men about him, in a white heat, "and
remember that the fellow provoked me to it. If he tries it again, I will
try again too." And he turned on his heel and walked away.

He had been far more tolerant, even in his wrath, than most men would
have been, but he had disposed of his enemy effectually. The fellow
lay stunned upon the ground. In his fall, he had cut his head upon the
curbstone, and the blood streamed from the wound when his companions
crowded near, and raised him. Owd Sammy Craddock offered no assistance;
he leaned upon his stick, and looked on with grim satisfaction.

"Tha's getten what tha deserved, owd lad," he said in an undertone. "An'
tha'st getten no more. I'st owe th' Lunnon chap one fro' this on. He's
done a bit o' work as I'd ha' takken i' hond mysen long ago, if I'd ha'
been thirty years younger, an' a bit less stiff i' th' hinges."

Fergus had not escaped without hurt himself, and the first angry
excitement over, he began to feel so sharp an ache in his wrist, that
he made up his mind to rest for a few minutes at Grace's lodgings before
going home. It would be wise to know the extent of his injury.

Accordingly, he made his appearance in the parlor, somewhat startling
his friend, who was at supper.

"My dear Fergus!" exclaimed Paul. "How excited you look!"

Derrick flung himself into a chair, feeling rather dubious about his
strength, all at once.

"Do I?" he said, with a faint smile. "Don't be alarmed, Grace, I have no
doubt I look as I feel. I have