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a WILD MARGARET.
Blair squared his shoulders to meet the shock, but Pyke,
though lean, was tall, and his long form, aided by the 1m-
petus of his leap, bore Blair to the ground. ;
There was a terrible struggle, at which the frightened
horse stood looking as if it were a horrified human being;
then Pyke got his fingers round Blair’s throat, and, press: .
ing against it, shook him heavily. °
“At last!’ he shouted, between a hiss and a growl.
‘*A¢ last, mister! I’ve waited a long time, but it’s my
| turn now, I think. You fine-tongued gentleman! PN—
Tl kill you. You thought I’d forgotten you, eh? You
thought I was going to let you go scot free, did you? Ah!
you'll know me better when I’ve done with you.”
Blair struggled as hard as he could, but the man’s long,
bony fingers were like steel, and, with a shrug of his shoul-
ders, he felt that his time had come. But even at that mo-
ment the old spirit came to the front, and, though he
could not speak, he smiled up at the livid face of his as:
sailant. a
The smile seemed to madden the man. .
‘What! you grin, do ye?” he said, between his teeth.
“Tl teach you! JV’ll humble you!” Then an idea seeme
to strike him, and, kneeling on Blair’s chest, he said, ‘‘ But
Tll give you a chance, my lord, even now, curse me if
don’t. Say, ‘I beg your pardon,’ and I’ll let you go.” -
With the intention of giving Blair an opportunity for the
apology, his grasp slacikened slightly.
It was a small opening, but Blair seized it. ;
- With a tremendous effort he writhed himself free, and
grasping Pyke by the forearm, raised himself to his feet,
and forced Pyke to his knees. :
‘You miserable hound!” he said, with his short, curt
laugh. ‘Beg your pardon, you mad fool! I'll teach you
to set traps for a good horse, that’s worth ten of you! You
put the gate there, did you? Look here, Pl make you
carry it back to its place before I’ve done with you! Ah,
and beg my pardon, too, into the bargain!” and with a
tremendous force-he flung the man backward.
Pyke was on his feet instantly, and the two men con-
fronted each other, not as they had ‘done on Leyton Green,
for then Blair’s face wore a smile, and there was joy an
i contentment in his heart, at the prospect of a fair fight, but
Ve now he knew that it would be as foul as his opponent coul
make it. a .
The sky grew blacker; the rain pelted down upon them,
but neither of them noticed the weather.
With a bound they sprung at each other, dealing heavy
blows, and taking them as if they were feather-down. The
result was a foregone one, Blair had been riding, the man
bith bent,