“I haven’t any authority to stop it.”
“They wouldn’t fight if you told them they weren’t to do it. Why, they wouldn’t fight if even I told them they weren’t to do it!” cried Ruth with sudden conviction. Her eyes flashed as she added: “If you won’t give me your word that you’ll stop it, I’ll go into the woods myself and find those boys and stop them.”
“No, that wouldn’t do at all, Ruth,” said Carson anxiously.
“I will, unless you promise.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“Good for you! And do hurry!”
Carson turned away and rejoined his companion, to whom he reported the conversation.
“The girl’s more or less right,” said Porter. “Henshaw ought to be made by the crowd to apologize to Ives; it oughtn’t to be necessary for Ives to fight him. I’m with you in what ever you do.”
Carson and Porter came into the open space behind the sawmill just as the two combatants, stripped to the waist, stood up to face each other. Carson broke rudely through the circle of eager onlookers and shoved his heavy bulk between the two gladiators.