head--but--but--but I'm a match for any feller 'round here,
and--and--"

It was not only evident to the audience, but to Mopsey himself, that
it was of no use for him to try to remember the words he should have
spoken, and he waved his sword frantically for Johnny to come on,
hoping to save his good name by the bloody combat, which could be
prolonged until their patrons were in good-humor. But just at this
moment it was impossible for Johnny to be of any service. He had tried
to alter the position of some of the pins in his trousers, so that
they would not prick him so badly, and the consequence was that the
entire work was undone, while one leg fell down over his foot in a
manner that prevented him from stepping, unless at the risk of
tumbling flat on his face. Ben did his best to repair the damage,
while Mopsey stood waving his sword, whispering very audibly for
Johnny not to mind the pins but to come on. Meantime the audience, in
the loudest tones, coaxed Johnny to come out and take Mopsey away.

But Ben succeeded finally in getting the ill-costumed Othello arranged
so that it was possible for him to walk, and he rushed on to the
stage, the gun in one hand and the sword in the other, just as Mopsey
was meditating a retreat from the freely-expressed criticism of his
audience.

The relief of the author-actor when he saw Othello was greater than
could be expressed by words, and he resolved to regain the good
opinion of the audience by the ferocity with which he would wage the
combat. It is probable that some such thought was expressed in his
face when he rushed towards Johnny, for, startled by the furious
bearing of his partner, Othello became frightened, and holding both
weapons in front of him, he looked ready for instant flight. It seemed
as if this very timidity restored to the prototype of the cruel
Richard all his assurance, for now, suddenly remembering the words he
should have spoken at Johnny's first appearance, he waved his sword
still more furiously, and shouted,

"It looks as if there was more than a dozen of this same feller, for
I've killed four or five already, an' here's a lot more of him."

[Illustration: HOLDING BOTH WEAPONS IN FRONT OF HIM, HE LOOKED READY
FOR INSTANT FLIGHT.]

Johnny was a trifle alarmed at the words, and looked almost timidly
behind him to see if he was really there in several forms, or if it
was only a portion of the play, when Mopsey struck his gun so severe a
blow with t