Between Snow and Fire — page 242: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

you're sorry you hit me : 34 Ly pes a dis "4 TWEEN SNOW : AND. FIRE. wih tere Ee Fae ee The fellow revived—gradually, stupidly. He had received a bad blow, which only a thick slouch hat and a thicker skull had saved from being a worse one. “Who the h—I are you?” he growled surlily, as he sat up. “Oh, I know you,” he went on as his glance lit upon Eustace. “All right, my fine feller, wait a bit, till I’m all right again. You'll be sorry yet for that d—d coward’s whack you've given me. See if you’re not.” “You brought it upon yourself. Why did you try and rush me?” “I didn’t rush you with a stirrup-iron, did I?” “No. But see here. If I’m attacked I’m not going to leave the choice of my means of defence to the enemy. Not much. How would that pan out for an idea in fighting old Kreli, for instance ?”’ “Of course,” struck in Errington, “ That’s sound sense, and you knowit is, Jackson. You and Milne have had a bit of a scrimmage and you've got the worst of it. It might easily have been the other way. So don’t let us have any grudge-bearing over it. Take another drink, man,” pour- ing out a liberal modicum of whiskey into the cup of the flask, and shake hands and make it up.” The man, who was not a bad fellow at bottom, gave a growl as he tossed off the tendered potion. Then he held out his hand to Eustace. ““ Well, Mister, I don’t bear no grudge. If you'll jest say “T’ll say that with pleasure, Jackson,” replied Eustace, as they shook hands. “And look here, if you still feel a bit groggy on your pins, jump on my horse and ride home. I'll walk.” “No, thanks. I'm all right now. Besides I aint going your way. My waggon’s outspanned yonder on the flat. Good-night.”’ “IT stand very much indebted to you, Errington, for two services rendered,” said Eustace as they rode towards the township. “And I’m not sure that the last isn’t by far the most important. “Pooh ! not at all, my dear fellow. That howling rabble wouldn’t have come within twenty yards of you.” “I don’t know about that. The vagabonds were rather beginning to realise that twenty to one meant long odds in favour of the twenty, when you came up. But the deft way Gomilicboo =)