if you're wanting a little argument that
doesn't require pencils or voices, why, you're on. You don't object to
my friend Craig coming along?"

"On the contrary, he'll make a good witness of what happens."

"The _chit_, boy!" Mallow paid the reckoning. "Now, then, come on.
Three rickshaws!" he called.

"Make it two," said Warrington. "I have mine."

"All fine and dandy!"

The barren plot of ground back of the dock was deserted. Warrington
jumped from his rickshaw and divested himself of his coat and flung his
hat beside it. Gleefully as a boy Mallow did likewise. Warrington
then bade the coolies to move back to the road.

"Rounds?" inquired Mallow.

"You filthy scoundrel, you know very well that there won't be any rules
to this game. Don't you think I know you? You'll have a try at my
knee-pans, if I give you the chance. You'll stick your finger into my
eyes, if I let you get close enough. I doubt if in all your life you
ever fought a man squarely." Warrington rolled up his sleeves and was
pleased to note the dull color of Mallow's face. He wanted to rouse
the brute in the man, then he would have him at his mercy. "I swore
four years ago that I'd make you pay for that night."

"You scum!" roared Mallow; "you'll never be a whole man when they carry
you away from here."

"Wait and see."

On the way to the dock Warrington had mapped out his campaign. Fair
play from either of these men was not to be entertained for a moment.
One was naturally a brute and the other was a coward. They would not
hesitate at any means to defeat him. And he knew what defeat would
mean at their hands: disfigurement, probably.

"Will you take a shilling for your fifty quid?" jeered Craig. He was
going to enjoy this, for he had not the least doubt as to the outcome.
Mallow was without superior in a rough and tumble fight.

Warrington did not reply. He walked cautiously toward Mallow. This
maneuver brought Craig within reach. It was not a fair blow, but
Warrington delivered it without the least compunction. It struck Craig
squarely on the jaw. Lightly as a cat Warrington jumped back. Craig's
knees doubled under him and he toppled forward on his face.

"Now, Mallow, you and I alone, with no one to jump on my back when I'm
looking elsewhere!"

Mallow, appreciating the trick, swore foully, and rushed. Warrington
jabbed with his left and side-stepped. One thing he must do and that
was to keep Mallow from getti