A powerful tug for the gun now took place, each pulling in opposite directions with all his might.

At length a thought struck Harman, who all at once let the gun go, when the other having no longer any resisting power to sustain him, fell back upon the floor, and in an instant Harman's knee was on his chest and the gun in his possession.

The man ground his teeth, and looking up into his face with a black scowl of hatred, exclaimed-- "It is your turn now, but I will have mine." "You have had yours too long, villain," replied the other, "but in the mean time I will teach you to respect the bed of death and the afflictions of the widow." Saying which, he vigorously applied the butt of the gun to his ribs, until he had rendered him anything but disposed for further conflict.
Both victories were achieved much about the same time; Raymond's opponent being far the more severely punished of the two.

"What, however, was their surprise after each had expelled his man from the cabin, to find Steele down, his gun lying on one side.

O'Regan's wife fastened on his throat, and himself panting and almost black in the face! "Here now," she exclaimed, "the battle of the widow was well fought, and God gave us strength.