"I dare you to say you did not do the cowardly deed yourself!" Railsford could not imagine how he had ever been so foolish as to be in a rage with the fellow.

He laughed outright at the last piece of bluster.

Bickers was now fairly beside himself, or he would never have done what he did.

He struck Railsford where he sat a blow on the mouth, which brought blood to his lips.

This surely was the last card, and Railsford in after years never knew exactly how it came about that he did not fly there and then at his enemy's throat, and shake him as a big dog shakes a rat.