It was soon evident that the big champion of the hills had at last met his match.  As he realized this, a look of devilish cunning crept into the animal face of Gibbs, and he maneuvered carefully to bring his enemy’s back toward the wagon.

Catching a look from his friend, over Young Matt’s shoulder, the man in the wagon slipped quickly to the ground, and Sammy saw with horror a naked knife in his hand.  She glanced toward Ollie appealingly, but that gentleman was helpless.  The man with the knife began creeping cautiously toward the fighting men, keeping always behind Young Matt.  The young woman felt as though an iron band held her fast.  She could not move.  She could not speak.  Then Gibbs went down, and the girl’s scream rang out, “Behind you, Matt!  Look quick!”

As he recovered his balance from the effort that had thrown Wash, Young Matt heard her cry, saw the girl’s look of horror, and her outstretched hand pointing.  Like a flash he whirled just as the knife was lifted high for the murderous blow.  It was over in an instant.  Sammy saw him catch the wrist of the uplifted arm, heard a dull snap and a groan, saw the knife fall from the helpless hand, and then saw the man lifted bodily and thrown clear over the wagon, to fall helpless on the rocky ground.  The woman gave a low cry, “Oh, what A man!”

Wash Gibbs, too, opened his eyes, just in time to witness the unheard-of feat, and to see the bare-armed young giant who performed it turn again, breathing heavily with his great exertion, but still ready to meet his big antagonist.

The defeated bully rose from the ground.  The other stepped forward to meet him.  But without a word, Gibbs climbed into the wagon and took up the reins.  Before they could move, Young Matt had the mules by their heads.  “You have forgotten something,” he said quietly, pointing to the man on the ground, who was still unconscious from his terrible fall.  “That there’s your property.  Take it along.  We ain’t got no use for such as that on Fall Creek.”

Sullenly Wash climbed down and lifted his companion into the wagon.  As Young Matt stood aside to let him go, the bully said, “I’ll see you agin fer this.”

The strong man only answered, “I reckon you’d better stay on Roark, Wash Gibbs.  You got more room there.”

CHAPTER XXVIII.

What Pete told Sammy.

No word was spoken by either Sammy or her lover, while their horses were climbing the mill road, and both were glad when they reached the top of the ridge, and turned into the narrow path where they would need to ride one before the other.  It was not easy to ride side by side, when each was busy with thoughts not to be spoken.

At the gate, Ollie dismounted to help the girl from her horse.  But before he could reach the pony’s side, Sammy sprang lightly to the ground, unassisted.  Opening the big gate, she turned Brownie loose in the yard, while the man stood watching her, a baffled look upon his face.  He had always done these little things for her.  To be refused at this time was not pleasant.  The feeling that he was on the outside grew stronger.