"I accept your apology, just as you've phrased it." "Apology, ye fool!" growled the stranger.
"That won't do.

Put up your hands!" "Why ?" "So ye can fight, ye--" "Fight ?" echoed Tom, with a shake of his bead.

"On a hot night like this?
No, sir! I refuse." Tom would have passed peaceably on his way, but the stranger suddenly let go a terrific right-hander.

Had Tom Reade received the blow he would have gone to the ground.

But the young engineer's athletic training stood by him.