feres wid the game.'

'Give it to him!' Keefe said savagely.

Sandy rose slowly, gazing round stupidly.

'He don't know what hit him,' laughed Keefe.

This roused the Highlander, and saying, 'I'll settle you afterwards,
Mister Keefe,' he rushed in again at Slavin. Again Slavin met him again
with his left, staggered him, and, before he fell, took a step forward
and delivered a terrific right-hand blow on his jaw. Poor Sandy went
down in a heap amid the yells of Blaney, Keefe, and some others of the
gang. I was in despair when in came Baptiste and Graeme.

One look at Sandy, and Baptiste tore off his coat and cap, slammed them
on the floor, danced on them, and with a long-drawn 'sap-r-r-r-rie,'
rushed at Slavin. But Graeme caught him by the back of the neck, saying,
'Hold on, little man,' and turning to Slavin, pointed to Sandy, who was
reviving under Nelson's care, and said, 'What's this for?'

'Ask him,' said Slavin insolently. 'He knows.'

'What is it, Nelson?'

Nelson explained that Sandy, after drinking some at the stable and a
glass at the Black Rock Hotel, had come down here with Keefe and the
others, had lost his money, and was accusing Slavin of robbing him.

'Did you furnish him with liquor?' said Graeme sternly.

'It is none of your business,' replied Slavin, with an oath.

'I shall make it my business. It is not the first time my men have lost
money in this saloon.'

'You lie,' said Slavin, with deliberate emphasis.

'Slavin,' said Graeme quietly, 'it's a pity you said that, because,
unless you apologise in one minute, I shall make you sorry.'

'Apologise?' roared Slavin, 'apologise to you?' calling him a vile name.

Graeme grew white, and said even more slowly, 'Now you'll have to take
it; no apology will do.'

He slowly stripped off coat and vest. Mr. Craig interposed, begging
Graeme to let the matter pass. 'Surely he is not worth it.'

'Mr. Craig,' said Graeme, with an easy smile, 'you don't understand. No
man can call me that name and walk around afterwards feeling well.'

Then, turning to Slavin, he said, 'Now, if you want a minute's rest, I
can wait.'

Slavin, with a curse, bade him come.

'Blaney,' said Graeme sharply, 'you get back.' Blaney promptly stepped
back to Keefe's side. 'Nelson, you and Baptiste can see that they stay
there.' The old man nodded and looked at Craig, who simply said, 'Do the
best you can.'

It was a good fight. Slavin had plenty of pluck, and for a time