"He ain't in no fit condition fer a scrap.

Wait till he has rested up a week or two--then he'll show thet tenderfoot what's what." And with these words he led Link away to where a couple of horses were tied.

He leaped on one and the bully leaped on the other, and in a moment more both were off for the Merwell ranch.
"Well, youngster, I reckon you can hold your own," remarked Mr.Hooper.
He had led a rough-and-tumble life himself and did not look on a fight as a dreadful matter.

"You had him going." "So you did, Dave," added Sid Todd, while several other cowboys nodded in assent.
"He forced the fight," answered Dave.

"I suppose he'll try it again some day." "Merwell always was scrappy," said one of the cowboys.
"Takes after his dad," added another; and then there was a general laugh.