Yet to me she is an angel!"
Contempt for the man who spoke of his wife and the infamous Carmin
Fanchet in the same breath drew a sneer to Carrigan's lips. He
nodded toward the waiting circle of men.
"They are ready for the show, St. Pierre. You talk big. Now let us
see if you can fight."
For another moment St. Pierre hesitated. "I am so sorry, m'sieu--
"Are you ready, St. Pierre?"
"It is not fair, and she will never forgive me. You are no match
for me. I am half again as heavy."
"And as big a coward as you are a scoundrel, St. Pierre."
"It is like a man fighting a boy."
"Yet it is less dishonorable than betraying the woman who is your
wife for another who should have been hanged along with her
brother, St. Pierre."
Boulain's face darkened. He drew back half a dozen steps and cried
out a word to Bateese. Instantly the circle of waiting men grew
tense as the half-breed jerked the big handkerchief from his head
and held it out at arm's length. Yet, with that eagerness for the
fight there was something else which Carrigan was swift to sense.
The attitude of the watchers was not one of uncertainty or of very
great expectation, in spite of the staring faces and the muscular
tightening of the line.
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