oke from his grasp and stood erect, listening.

"I have no fear of Al Thompson, nor any other man," he said, rising.
"Where this arm falls power falls with it. I am monarch of the hill just
now."

He was dramatic, and she admired his great physique and brave words.

"Ye don't know Al," she said. "He's been drinkin', an' is not
accountable for his actions, so we'd better be a-gittin'."

"If you have no confidence in my strength," he said angrily, "we shall
go."

She felt a little hurt.

"I didn't mean to," she said slowly, "but I want you to go so's you'll
be safe."

They started off, but before they cleared the opening that hideous yell
broke the otherwise dead silence, and Al Thompson darted through the
thicket like a madman, brandishing his pistol over his head, and with a
roar of anger, cried out:

"I've got ye now, durn ye', an' ye'll never see daylight agin. Hit ther
road, gal, while I lay him out like a dog."

Al was coming nearer and nearer as he spoke. Wade did not flinch, but
stood like a man. Nora stepped in front of him to protect him from the
onslaught, but she was like a twig in the hands of that maddened giant.
He caught her by the shoulder and cast her aside as though she had been
chaff before a strong wind. However, he did not reckon on the powerful
agility of his athletic antagonist, who, before the wild man knew what
had happened, knocked the pistol from his maniacal grasp. One of Wade's
fists then shot out and struck Thompson squarely on the nose. He went
down, grunting under the smart of pain, while Wade stood over him like a
heroic victor, not deigning to strike his enemy while he was down.
Nora's admiration for Jack's daring and skill grew stronger as she saw
him standing there over the prostrate form of his victim, whom he could
have killed had he chosen to do so.

"What ye goin' ter do with me since you got me down?" asked Al
doggedly, not in the least defiantly.

"I'm going to let you get up so I can have the great pleasure of
knocking you down again," Wade replied, with flushed face and animated
voice.

Thompson saw the very streaks of fire as they shot from Jack Wade's
eyes, and he made no effort to rise. He just looked sullenly, first at
Wade, then at the girl.

"Get up, quick, you coward!" exclaimed Wade warmly.

"I'm comfortable 'nough here," replied Thompson. "If I get up ye might
keep your word an' lay me out again."

Jack Wade was not fully acquainted with the mountai