ng into close quarters. The copra-grower
was more than his match in the knowledge of those Oriental devices that
usually cripple a man for life. He must wear him down scientifically;
he must depend upon his ring-generalship. In his youth Warrington had
been a skilful boxer. He could now back this skill with rugged health
and a blow that had a hundred and eighty pounds behind it.

From ordinary rage, Mallow fell into a frenzy; and frenzy never won a
ring-battle. Time after time he endeavored to grapple, but always that
left stopped him. Warrington played for his face, and to each jab he
added a taunt. "That for the little Cingalese!" "Count that one for
Wheedon's broken knees!" "And wouldn't San admire that? Remember her?
The little Japanese girl whose thumbs you broke?" "Here's one for me!"
It was not dignified; but Warrington stubbornly refused to look back
upon this day either with shame or regret. Jab-jab, cut and slash!
went the left. There was no more mercy in the mind back of it than
might be found in the sleek felines who stalked the jungles north.
Doggedly Mallow fought on, hoping for his chance. He tried every trick
he knew, but he could only get so near. The ring was as wide as the
world; there were no corners to make grappling a possibility.

Some of his desperate blows got through. The bezel of his ring laid
open Warrington's forehead. He was brave enough; but he began to
realize that this was not the same man he had turned out into the
night, four years ago. And the pain and ignominy he had forced upon
others was now being returned to him. Warrington would have prolonged
the battle had he not seen Craig getting dizzily to his feet. It was
time to end it. He feinted swiftly. Mallow, expecting a body-blow,
dropped his guard. Warrington, as he struck, felt the bones in his
hand crack. Mallow went over upon his back, fairly lifted off his
feet. He was tough; an ordinary man would have died.

[Illustration: The Battle.]

"I believe that squares accounts," said Warrington, speaking to Craig.
"If you hear of me in America, in Europe, anywhere, keep away from the
places I'm likely to go. Tell him," with an indifferent jerk of his
head toward the insensible Mallow, "tell him that I give him that fifty
pounds with the greatest good pleasure. Sorry I can't wait."

He trotted back to his rickshaw, wiped the blood from his face, put on
his hat and coat, and ordered the respectful coolie to