to your wagon and
drive on. You ain't on Roark now. You're on Fall Creek, and over
here you ain't no bigger'n anybody else."

While Young Matt was speaking, Gibbs backed slowly away, and, as
the young man finished, suddenly drew the pistol he had taken from
Ollie. With a quickness and lightness astonishing in one of his
bulk and usually slow movements, the mountaineer leaped upon his
big enemy. There was a short, sharp struggle, and Wash staggered
backward, leaving the shining weapon in Young Matt's hand. "It
might go off, you know," said the young fellow quietly, as he
tossed the gun on the ground at Ollie's feet.

With a mad roar, Gibbs recovered himself and rushed at his
antagonist. It was a terrific struggle; not the skillful sparring
of trained fighters, but the rough and tumble battling of
primitive giants. It was the climax of long months of hatred; the
meeting of two who were by every instinct mortal enemies. Ollie
shrank back in terror, but Sammy leaned forward in the saddle, her
beautiful figure tense, her lips parted, and her face flushed with
excitement.

It was soon evident that the big champion of the hills had at last
met his match. As he realized this, a look of devilish cunning
crept into the animal face of Gibbs, and he maneuvered carefully
to bring his enemy's back toward the wagon.

Catching a look from his friend, over Young Matt's shoulder, the
man in the wagon slipped quickly to the ground, and Sammy saw with
horror a naked knife in his hand. She glanced toward Ollie
appealingly, but that gentleman was helpless. The man with the
knife began creeping cautiously toward the fighting men, keeping
always behind Young Matt. The young woman felt as though an iron
band held her fast. She could not move. She could not speak. Then
Gibbs went down, and the girl's scream rang out, "Behind you,
Matt! Look quick!"

As he recovered his balance from the effort that had thrown Wash,
Young Matt heard her cry, saw the girl's look of horror, and her
outstretched hand pointing. Like a flash he whirled just as the
knife was lifted high for the murderous blow. It was over in an
instant. Sammy saw him catch the wrist of the uplifted arm, heard
a dull snap and a groan, saw the knife fall from the helpless
hand, and then saw the man lifted bodily and thrown clear over the
wagon, to fall helpless on the rocky ground. The woman gave a low
cry, "Oh, WHAT A MAN!"

Wash Gibbs, too, opened his eyes, just in time to wit