Then he came swiftly, and forced me back upon the garden wall.

I gave to him foot by foot, for he was uncommon swift and dexterous.

He pinched me sorely once under the knee, and I returned him one upon the wrist, which sent a devilish fire into his eyes.

At that his play became so delicate and confusing that I felt I should go dizzy if it stayed; so I tried the one great trick cousin Secord taught me, making to run him through, as a last effort.

The thing went wrong, but checking off my blunder he blundered too,--out of sheer wonder, perhaps, at my bungling,--and I disarmed him.