He stript, selected the biggest, and put himself into a fighting attitude.

They set to, and in a few minutes Murdock's powerful bones and muscles enabled him to achieve the victory.

The other men, who had looked on fairly, without interfering, seeing the temper and vigour of the man they had bullied, made overtures of reconciliation.

William was quite willing to be friendly.
Accordingly they shook hands all round, and parted the best of friends.
It is also said that Murdock afterwards fought a duel with Captain Trevethick, because of a quarrel between Watt and the mining engineer, in which Murdock conceived his master to have been unfairly and harshly treated.[5] The uses of Watt's steam-engine began to be recognised as available for manufacturing purposes.

It was then found necessary to invent some method by which continuous rotary motion should be secured, so as to turn round the moving machinery of mills.