The curls clung to his forehead; his breath came and went in gasps; I heard the men behind me and one or two of them drop an oath; and then I slipped--slipped, and was down in a moment on my right side, my elbow striking the pavement so sharply that the arm grew numb to the wrist.
He held off.

I heard a dozen voices cry, 'Now! now you have him!' But he held off.

He stood back and waited with his breast heaving and his point lowered, until I had risen and stood again on my guard.
'Enough! enough!' a rough voice behind me cried.

'Don't hurt the man after that.' 'On guard, sir!' I answered coldly--for he seemed to waver, and be in doubt.

'It was an accident.