ed Blenham wrathfully, for the
first time breaking his silence. "Sneakin', low-lived curs an'
cowards!"

"That it, Steve?" persisted Royce. "Goin' to tie him up an' give him a
whippin' with a blacksnake?"

"I am going to whip him--for your sake, Bill," answered Steve sternly.

He threw off his coat, tossing it behind him.

"Get the chairs and table out of the way, Barbee! No, I am not going
to tie him up; that isn't necessary, Bill. I can handle him with my
hands without tying him; I am going to do it. And then I am going to
take the whip and lay it across him until his hide is in strips--or
until he begs to be let go. Ready, Blenham?"

"Mean that?" snarled Blenham, a new look in his eye. "Mean you're
goin' to give me an even break?"

But Bill Royce, fairly trembling with an eagerness strange to him, had
clutched at Steve's arm, had found it, was holding him back, crying out
excitedly:

"You're a good pal, Stevie; you're the best pal as ever was an' I know
it! Didn't I always know you'd be like this? But can't you see,
Stevie, can't you see it ain't enough another man should lick him, even
when that man's my pardner, even when it's Stevie himself doin' it!
Ain't I been waitin' an' waitin' to get my hands on him!"

Blenham, a little comforted by Steve's words, jeered openly now.

"Come on, Blind Billy," he taunted. "An' when I've throwed you into
the junk pile I'll take on your friends! One at the time--you know how
the sayin' goes!"

Steve was shaking Royce's hand from his arm.

"Let me do this for you, Bill," he said firmly. "It's only fair. If
you could see, it would be different."

But Royce clung on desperately, crying out insistently:

"Blind as I am I can lick him! I know I can lick him! Ain't I done it
in my sleep a dozen times, a dozen ways? Ain't I always promised
myself sometime I'd get him in my two hands, I'd feel him wriggle an'
squirm? This is my fight, Steve, an'--Blenham, where are you?"

"Here!" cried Blenham. "An' gettin' tired of waitin'!"

Royce plunged toward him. But Steve Packard caught his old friend
about the body, holding him back a moment.

"Easy, Bill," he said gently. "Easy. I was wrong, you are right.
It's your fight. But take your time. Get your coat off. Barbee,
stand by that window there; if Blenham tries to get out stop him. I'll
stand here. All ready, Bill?"

"Ready!" cried Royce, his voice a roar of eagerness.

"All ready, Blenham?"