Then, darting back for fully twenty-five feet, he cried out, gayly: 

“I won’t buy him from you.  But I’ll fight you for him, if you like.”

As he spoke, he drew from his pocket a battered and old-fashioned gold watch.  Laying it on the sand, he went on: 

“How does this strike you as a sporting offer?  Winner to take both dog and watch?  How about it?”

The other had halted in an incipient charge to take note of the odd proposition.  He blinked at the flash of the watch’s battered gold case in the sunshine.  For the first time, he seemed a trifle irresolute.  This eel-like antagonist, with such eccentric ideas as to sport, was something outside the beach-comber’s experience.  Puzzled, he stood scowling.

“How about it?” queried Brice.  “I hope you’ll refuse.  I’d rather be kicked, any day, than have to fight.  But—­well, I wouldn’t rather see a good dog kicked.  Still, if you’re content with what you’ve got, we’ll call it a day.  I’ll take the dog and be moving on.”

The barefoot man’s bewilderment was once more merging into wrath, at the amused superiority in Brice’s words and demeanor.  He glowered appraisingly at the intruder.  He saw Brice was a half-head shorter than himself and at least thirty pounds lighter.  Nor did Brice’s figure betray any special muscular development.  Apparently, there could be but one outcome to such a battle.

The man’s fists clenched, afresh.  His big muscles tightened.  Brice saw the menace and spoke again.

“It’s only fair to warn you,” said he, gently, “that I shall thrash you worse than ever you’ve been thrashed before in all your down-at-heel life.  When I was a boy, I saw George Siler beat up five men who tackled him.  Siler wasn’t a big man.  But he had made a life-study of leverage.  And it served him better than if he’d toted a machine gun.  I studied under him.  And then, a bit, under a jui-jutsu man.  You’ll have less chance against me than that poor collie had against you.  I only mention it as a friendly warning.  Best let things rest as they are.  Come, puppy!” he chirped to the highly interested dog.  “Let’s be on our way.  Perhaps we can find the people who lost you.  That’s what I’ve been wanting to do, all day, you know,” he added, in a lower voice, speaking confidentially to the dog, and beginning to stroll off toward the woods.

But the barefoot man would not have it so.  Now, he understood.  This sissyfied chap, with the high and-mighty airs, was bluffing.  That was what he was doing.  Bluffing!  Did he think for a minute he could get away with it, and with the dog?

A swirl of red fury swept to the beach comber’s brain.  Wordless, face distorted, he flung himself at the elusive Brice.

So sudden was his spring that it threatened to take its victim unaware.  Brice’s back was turned to the aggressor, and he was already on his way toward the woods.