Armstrong got a hold on the neck of his assailant and choked him until he let go.

This was not enough for the sturdy bully of Clary's Grove.

He seized his follower and flung him so roughly on the ground that the latter lay for a moment stunned.

Armstrong had got his blood warm and was now ready for action.

With a wild whoop he threw off his coats, unbuttoned his right shirt-sleeve and rolled it to the shoulder and declared in a loud voice, as he swung his arm in the air, that he could "out jump, out hop, out run, throw down, drag out an' lick any man in New Salem." In a letter to his father Samson writes: * * * * * "Abe was working at my elbow.