, ponderous strength,
slow-moving, brutal force, broad-backed, deep-chested endurance. But
from the first it was clear to all who watched and was suspected by
Woods himself that he had chosen the wrong man.

Steve was taller, had the longer reach, was gifted by the gods with a
supple strength no whit less than the bearish power of the timber boss.
With ten blows struck, with both men rocking dizzily, it was patently
Steve Packard's fight. But a dull, dogged persistence was in Joe
Woods's eyes as again he shook his head and charged.

Steve struck for the stomach and landed--hard. Woods doubled up; the
sweat came in drops upon his forehead; his face went suddenly a sick
white. But the light in his eyes, as again he lifted his head, was
unaltered.

"He can lick me--I know it! He can lick me--I know it!" he muttered
and kept muttering. "But, by God, he's got to do it!"

And Steve did it and men looked on queerly, appraising him anew. He
took Woods's blows when he must and felt the pain go stabbing through
his body; but he stood up and struck back and forced the fight
steadily, crowding his adversary relentlessly, seeming always to strike
swifter and harder.

It was a bleeding fist driven into Joe Woods's throbbing throat,
followed by the other fist, going piston-like, at Joe Woods's stomach,
that ended the fight.

The bigger man crumpled and went down slowly like one of his own trees
just toppling, and lay staring up into Packard's face with dull eyes.
Steve stepped over him, going to the door.

"I'll see you in the morning, Woods," he panted.

But again boots were shuffling on the floor and already several men,
Dan Hodges among them, were between him and the door. It dawned upon
him that Blenham must have given emphatic orders and that Blenham had
the trick of exacting obedience.

"Hold him here," shouted Hodges, and being a man of little spirit he
withdrew hastily under Steve's eyes, thrusting another man in front of
him. "Keep him for the sheriff. Startin' a fight in my place--it's
disturbin' the peace, that's what it is! I won't stand it!"

Packard drew back two or three paces, his eyes narrowing. At that
instant he was sure of what he saw in the faces of at least three of
the men confronting him; they were going to rush him together.

But now Joe Woods was on his feet again. Packard drew still further
back, getting the wall behind him. And then came a diversion. It was
Joe Woods speaking he