He'd have taken his licking just the same and I'd have had my nevvy out of that buggy!" "Didn't he say nothing about this here order from the colt, Bob ?" "There wa'n't much conversation, Squire.

I invited my nevvy to light down, and then I snaked Dave Blount out over the wheel." "Who struck the first blow ?" "He did.

He struck at me with his buggy whip." "What you got to say to this, Mr.Blount ?" asked the squire.
"I say I showed him the order like I said," answered Blount doggedly.
Squire Balaam removed his spectacles and leaned back in his chair.
"It's the opinion of this here co't that the whole question of assault rests on whether Bob Yancy saw the order.

Bob Yancy swears he didn't see it, while Dave Blount swears he showed it to him.

If Bob Yancy didn't know of the existence of the order he was clearly actin' on the idea that Blount was stealin' his nevvy, and he done what any one would have done under the circumstances.