His sunburned face was rather white and he stood very stiff, with muscles braced, looking down at Wilkinson.
"Get up, you slanderous brute, and tell them it's a lie," he said.
"I'll be shot if I will!" said Wilkinson, who got on his feet reluctantly.

"You know it's true." Then he flung up his arm, a second too late, for Festing struck him a smashing blow and he staggered, with the blood running down his face.
He recovered in a moment, and seizing a billiard cue brought the thick end down on Festing's head.

Festing swayed, half-dazed, but grasped the cue, and they struggled for its possession, until it broke in the middle, and Wilkinson flung his end in the other's face.

After this, for a minute or two, the fight was close and confused, and both made the most of any advantage that offered.
In Western Canada, personal combat is not hampered by rules.

The main thing is to disable one's antagonist as quickly as possible, and Festing knew that Wilkinson would not be scrupulous.