“Well, boys,” said Uncle Isaac, “fling on some pitch knots; if I am going to be beat, I want everybody to see it.”
“What did I tell you?” said Joe, giving Seth a poke in the ribs; “the old man knows what he’s about.”
The two champions sat down.
“Say when you’re ready, Joe,” said Uncle Isaac.
“Ready,” says Joe.
Uncle Isaac was not only strong, but of very quick strength; and before the words were well out of the other’s mouth, he pulled him over his head, into Joe Griffin’s arms, who was eagerly looking over Uncle Isaac.
“It ain’t fair,” said Joe, his face as red as fire; “I wasn’t ready.”
“You said you was.”
“Well, I thought I was; but I wasn’t.”
“Try it again,” was the cry. They sat down. Uncle Isaac waited patiently till Joe had spit on his hands, and said he was completely ready, when he pulled him up just as easily as before.