his grip; Marcus and
the harness-maker struggled together for a few moments till Heise all at
once slipped on a bit of turf and fell backwards. As they toppled over
together, Marcus writhed himself from under his opponent, and, as they
reached the ground, forced down first one shoulder and then the other.

"All right, all right," panted the harness-maker, goodnaturedly, "I'm
down. It's up to you and Doc now," he added, as he got to his feet.

The match between McTeague and Marcus promised to be interesting. The
dentist, of course, had an enormous advantage in point of strength,
but Marcus prided himself on his wrestling, and knew something about
strangle-holds and half-Nelsons. The men drew back to allow them a free
space as they faced each other, while Trina and the other women rose to
their feet in their excitement.

"I bet Mac will throw him, all the same," said Trina.

"All ready!" cried Ryer.

The dentist and Marcus stepped forward, eyeing each other cautiously.
They circled around the impromptu ring. Marcus watching eagerly for an
opening. He ground his teeth, telling himself he would throw McTeague
if it killed him. Ah, he'd show him now. Suddenly the two men caught at
each other; Marcus went to his knees. The dentist threw his vast bulk on
his adversary's shoulders and, thrusting a huge palm against his face,
pushed him backwards and downwards. It was out of the question to resist
that enormous strength. Marcus wrenched himself over and fell face
downward on the ground.

McTeague rose on the instant with a great laugh of exultation.

"You're down!" he exclaimed.

Marcus leaped to his feet.

"Down nothing," he vociferated, with clenched fists. "Down nothing, by
damn! You got to throw me so's my shoulders touch."

McTeague was stalking about, swelling with pride.

"Hoh, you're down. I threw you. Didn't I throw him, Trina? Hoh, you
can't rastle ME."

Marcus capered with rage.

"You didn't! you didn't! you didn't! and you can't! You got to give me
another try."

The other men came crowding up. Everybody was talking at once.

"He's right."

"You didn't throw him."

"Both his shoulders at the same time."

Trina clapped and waved her hand at McTeague from where she stood on
the little slope of lawn above the wrestlers. Marcus broke through the
group, shaking all over with excitement and rage.

"I tell you that ain't the WAY to rastle. You've got to throw a man so's
his shoulders touch. You got