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.
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