t and still
air the sound of Mary's voice singing up at the house. I thought hard
into the future, even as I fought. The fight only seemed something that
was passing.

I was on my feet again and at it, and presently I lunged out and felt
such a jar in my arm that I thought it was telescoped. I thought I'd put
out my wrist and elbow. And Romany was lying on the broad of his back.

I heard Jack draw three breaths of relief in one. He said nothing as
he straightened me up, but I could feel his heart beating. He said
afterwards that he didn't speak because he thought a word might spoil
it.

I went down again, but Jack told me afterwards that he FELT I was all
right when he lifted me.

Then Romany went down, then we fell together, and the chaps separated
us. I got another knock-down blow in, and was beginning to enjoy the
novelty of it, when Romany staggered and limped.

'I've done,' he said. 'I've twisted my ankle.' He'd caught his heel
against a tuft of grass.

'Shake hands,' yelled Jimmy Nowlett.

I stepped forward, but Romany took his coat and limped to his horse.

'If yer don't shake hands with Wilson, I'll lamb yer!' howled Jimmy; but
Jack told him to let the man alone, and Romany got on his horse somehow
and rode off.

I saw Jim Bullock stoop and pick up something from the grass, and heard
him swear in surprise. There was some whispering, and presently Jim
said--

'If I thought that, I'd kill him.'

'What is it?' asked Jack.

Jim held up a butcher's knife. It was common for a man to carry a
butcher's knife in a sheath fastened to his belt.

'Why did you let your man fight with a butcher's knife in his belt?'
asked Jimmy Nowlett.

But the knife could easily have fallen out when Romany fell, and we
decided it that way.

'Any way,' said Jimmy Nowlett, 'if he'd stuck Joe in hot blood before us
all it wouldn't be so bad as if he sneaked up and stuck him in the back
in the dark. But you'd best keep an eye over yer shoulder for a year or
two, Joe. That chap's got Eye-talian blood in him somewhere. And now the
best thing you chaps can do is to keep your mouth shut and keep all this
dark from the gals.'

Jack hurried me on ahead. He seemed to act queer, and when I glanced
at him I could have sworn that there was water in his eyes. I said that
Jack had no sentiment except for himself, but I forgot, and I'm sorry I
said it.

'What's up, Jack?' I asked.

'Nothing,' said Jack.

'What's up, you old fool?