"Confound the lunatic!" said Tough McCarty, receiving a solid thump in the ribs. "I can't stand here, getting pummeled all day. Got to hit him--ouch!"
Dink, in his frantic rush, throwing himself under his enemy's guard, almost bore him to the ground by the shock of his onslaught. McCarty, angrily brushing the blood from his already outraged nose with the cuff of his sleeve, shook himself like an angry bear and, catching Stover with a straight-arm blow, sent him rolling on the turf.
Back again and again came Stover, hurling himself wildly onto the scientific fists that sent him reeling back. The green arms of the trees, the gray faces of the onlookers, the blue of the tilting sky rushed into the reeling earth, confounded together. He no longer saw the being he was fighting, a white film slipped over everything and then all went out in blank unconsciousness.
When he opened his eyes again he was on his back, looking up through the willows at a puffy cloud that turned against the blue. At his side the brook went softly, singing in whispers the note that stirred the leaves.
Something wet fell on his face and trickled uncomfortably down his neck. Some one was applying a dripping cloth.
"Where is he?" he cried, trying to spring up. "Fight him,--fight him to the end!"
"There, there, you fire-eater!" said Cheyenne. "Go easy. You've had enough blood for one afternoon. Lie back. Shut your eyes."
He heard whispering and the sound of voices going, and lost consciousness again.
When he saw the face of the day once more he was alone with Cheyenne, who was kneeling by his side, smiling as he watched him.
Cheyenne's good right arm caught him as he tottered and held him.
Aided by Cheyenne, he went weakly back to the Green. At the steps Tough McCarty sprang up and advanced with outstretched hand, saying:
"I don't want to shake hands," he said, flushing and gazing at Tough McCarty until the pupils of his eyes seemed to dwindle, "with you or any of you. I hate you all; you're a gang of muckers. I'll fight you now: I'll fight you to-morrow. You're too big for me now; but I'll lick you--I'll lick you next year--you, Tough McCarty--or the year after that; you see if I don't!"
Tough McCarty stood back, rightfully offended. Cheyenne led Dink up to his room and lectured him.