He had stood his taunts and insults with commendable good temper, but there is a limit to the forbearance of the most patient man.
He caught Peace round the waist, lifted him up, and threw him from him with the greatest ease.
Peace picked himself up and rushed forward again at his antagonist, who by this time had become a little angry.
He delivered a well-directed blow on his opponent’s chest, which knocked him backwards.
Finding that he was overmatched, Peace picked up a large flint stone, which he hurled at Gatliffe, who was seriously bruised in the thigh from the blow.
He rushed rapidly forward, and, clutching Peace by both arms, he pinioned him, and rendered him powerless to do further harm for the present.
“Let go, coward—let go!” exclaimed Peace.
“It’s you who are the coward, you spiteful, vindictive little brute. You ought to be ashamed of yourself—that is if you have any shame in you. Think yourself lucky you’ve escaped a good thrashing, for it’s what you deserve,” said Gatliffe.
Peace made frantic efforts to release himself, but he was unsuccessful.
Gatliffe, in addition to having great personal strength, had on more than one occasion carried off the prize as a wrestler.