g that I am going to get him, get him any way I can! You let us
fight this out our way, any way, and no interference!"

"Talk to Bud there," rejoined the old cattleman calmly. "It ain't my
scrap."

"Then, Lee," snapped Trevors, "come on if you want such a fight as
you'd get if you and I were alone in the mountains, with no man to
watch, a fight where a man can use what weapons God gave him, any
weapon he can lay his mind to, his eye to, his hand to! Or," and at
last the sneer came, "do you want a pair of padded gloves and somebody
to fan you?"

Carson shifted his glance to Bud Lee's face. Lee merely nodded.

"Then," cried Carson sternly, "go to it! No man steps in, an' you two
can fight it out like coyotes or mountain-lions for all of me."

"Your word there will be no interference?" asked Trevors. "For you're
just a fool and not a liar, Carson."

"My word," was the answer.

XXX

THE FIGHT

Bayne Trevors slipped out of his coat and vest, tossing them to the
pile of chairs on the table. He loosened his soft shirt-collar and was
ready. All of Bud Lee's simple preparations had been made when he
threw his broad hat aside.

Then came the little pause which is forerunner to the first blow, when
two men measure each other, seeking each to read the other's purpose.

"It ought to be a pretty even break," muttered Melvin, his interest
obviously that of a sporting man who would travel a thousand miles to
see a fight for a champion's belt. "Trevors has the weight by forty
pounds; Lee has the reach by a hair; both quick-footed; both hard; Lee,
maybe a little harder. Don't know. Even break. The sand will do
it--sand or luck."

The two men drew slowly together. Their hands came up, their fists
showed glistening knuckles, their jaws were set, their feet moved
cautiously. Then suddenly Bud Lee sprang in and struck.

Struck tentatively with his left hand that grazed Trevors's cheek and
did no harm; struck terribly with his right hand that drove through the
other man's guard and landed with the little sound of flesh on flesh on
Trevors's chest. Trevors's grunt and his return blow came together;
both men reeled back a half-pace from the impact, both hung an instant
upon an unsteady balance, both sprang forward. And as they met the
second time, they battled furiously, clinging together, striking
mercilessly, giving and taking with only the sound of scuffing
boot-heels and soft thuds and little coughing