ur gude word."

"That's well, then," said the other, in his big voice, as his hands
tightened. "We've met again. I'm glad I didn't break your neck, for your
heart's left to break, and by the living God I'll break it! I can wait.
I'm older than you, but young enough. Remember, I'll run you down sooner
or later. I've hunted most things, and men aren't the cleverest beasts
and you're not the cleverest man I've bested in my time. You beat me--I
know it--but it would have been better for you if you hadn't been born.
There's the truth for your country ears, you damned young hound. I'll
fight fair and I'll fight to the finish. Sport--that's what it is. The
birds and the beasts and the fish have their close time; but there won't
be any close time for you, not while I can think and work against you.
So now you know. D' you hear me?"

"Ess," said Will, meeting the other's fierce eyes; "I hear 'e, an' so
might the dead in Chagford buryin'-ground. You hollers loud enough. I
ban't 'feared of nothing a hatch-mouthed,[7] crooked-minded man, same as
you be, can do. An' if I'm a hound, you 'm a dirty red fox, an'
everybody knaws who comes out top when they meet. Steal my gal, would
'e? Gaw your ways, an' mend your ways, an' swallow your bile. I doan't
care a flicker o' wildfire for 'e!"

[7] _Hatch-mouthed_ = foul mouthed; profane.

John Grimbal heard only the beginning of this speech, for he turned his
back on Will and rode away while the younger man still shouted after
him. Blanchard was in a rage, and would have liked to make a third trial
of strength with his enemy on the spot, but the rider vanished and Will
quickly cooled as he went down the hill to Chagford. The remembrance of
this interview, for all his scorn, chilled him when he reflected on John
Grimbal's threats. He feared nothing indeed, but here was another cloud,
and a black one, blown violently back from below the horizon of his life
to the very zenith. Malignity of this type was strange to him and
differed widely from the petty bickerings, jealousies, and strifes of
ordinary country existence. It discouraged him to feel in his hour of
universal contentment that a strong, bitter foe would now be at hand,
forever watching to bring ruin on him at the first opportunity. As he
walked home he asked himself how he should feel and act in Grimbal's
shoes, and tried to look at the position from his enemy's standpoint. Of
course he told himself that he would have accepted de