“Look here, my friend,” said Peace, “you may think yourself lucky in being let off so easily this time. The next time you attempt to lay hands on me I’ll put a bullet in your brain. I’m in earnest, and mean what I say. I will shoot you if you endeavour to again assault me. So now beware.”
The man rubbed his eyes and looked hard at the speaker.
“Do you comprehend?” inquired the latter.
“I hear what you say.”
Strongly built and muscular as he was, the countryman was by this time as weak as a rat; his knees seemed to give way under his weight, he felt giddy, and was fain to cling to the gate by the side of the road for support.
He was fairly mastered.
“Why, Giles, what be the matter wi’ ’ee?” inquired two young fellows, who had seen the affray three fields off, and who now arrived on the scene of action.
“Has the little’un bin too much for ’ee?”
“He’s a devil, that what he be—a devil!” exclaimed Giles, nodding towards Peace.
“You will understand,” said the latter, addressing himself to the newcomers, “that he attacked me in a violent manner without any reasonable excuse. I never saw the fellow before in my life—have had no quarrel with him until he chose to abuse and assault me, and I desire you to distinctly understand that what I have done has been only in the way of self-defence.”