low on his chest,
harangued the multitude from a wagon-box. They halted to listen, like a
crowd at a fair.

"Gents all," bellowed the big man. "There's been some tall talkin' done
to-day between two hombres who have agreed to see which is the best man,
in man fashion, usin' the strength an' skill that God gave 'em, without
recourse to gun, knife or slungshot. Roarin' Russell, champeen wrastler,
allows he can lick any man in camp. Mormon Peters, champeen holder of
the Cow Belt, 'lows he can't. That's the cause an' reason of the combat.
Any other reason that has been mentioned is private between the two
principals an' none of our damned business."

The crowd roared in approval of the speaker's style and the force of his
breezy delivery. He had touched their chivalry in thus delicately
alluding to the episode of the insult and apology to the only woman in
camp.

"Therefore," he went on, and the word slipped round that he was Lem
Pardee, wealthy rancher and ex-representative of the state, "such an
affair appealin' to every red-blooded male among us, it behooves us to
see it brought off in due form, fair an' square to both parties, in a
bare-fisted settlement--an' may the best man win."

More howls went up, dying as he held up his hand.

"There's level ground below the bridge with free seats an' standin' room
for all on both sides. The moon graces the occasion an' provides the
proper illumination. I move you that a referee be appointed to discuss
fightin' rules with Roarin' Russell an' Mormon Peters, to settle all
side bets, with power to app'int a committee to keep the side lines an'
take up a suitable purse for the winner. Referee will give the decision,
if necessary, an' settle all disputes."

Shouts that drowned all others nominated Pardee as chief official. He
accepted the choice with a wave of his hand and, glancing about him,
rapidly picked five men as his committee. Two of them he did not know by
name but selected from his judgment of men, and his choices met with
general approval.

"The principals will choose their own seconds," he said. "Not more than
three to each man, to act only in that capacity and in no way to
interfere. That's all."

In two factions the crowd moved down the slant of the street, turned
aside at the bridge and, as Pardee indicated the level space on the nigh
side of the creek that trickled down the gulch like quicksilver in the
moonlight, ranged themselves about the natural arena whi