When he did understand, however, he was furious.
“Let me get at him!” he madly cried, struggling to his feet. “I’ll hammer the life out of him! I’ll have revenge!”
“Steady, Hegner!” warned Burk. “You’re in no condition to go against him now. You slipped when he struck you the last time, and——”
Hegner caught at this eagerly.
“Yes, yes, I slipped!” he snarled. “If it hadn’t been for that, he’d never have got the best of it. And I fell and struck against the wall. I can do him any time.”
“Of course you can, old fellow. But you know a fight will not be allowed in this club. You’ll have to wait for your opportunity. It will come all right.”
Hegner cooled down.
“Take your hands off me,” he said. “I won’t touch him again, but I want to tell him something.”
“Sure you won’t get excited and jump him?”
“Sure.”