Badger encountered Pike while the latter was on his way to his room.

The Kansan's eye still pained him, and his rage was hot.

As soon as he saw Pike he stepped across the walk and took him by the nose.
"That's the way I treat such skunks as you!" he hissed, flinging Pike from him after offering him that deadly insult.

"I want to warn you to keep out of my way after this.

If you don't, I'll treat you just as I would a rattler!" "You mean you will kill me!" snarled Pike, rushing at the Kansan in a fit of blind rage.
But he was no match for Badger, who flung him off with surprising ease, and then held him at bay and at arm's length by a clutch on his throat.
"I've a notion to choke the breath out of you!" said Badger.