"Do you say enough?" panted the victor.
A groan from the helpless man beneath.
[pg 73]
"Am I the best man? Can I whip you?" demanded the voice above him, in the formula prescribed.
"Go on--do it! Pull out his eye!" commanded Bill Jackson savagely. "He called it free to you! But don't wait!"
But the victor sprang free, stood, dashed the blood from his own eyes, wavered on his feet.
The hands of his fallen foe were across his eyes. But even as his men ran in, stooped and drew them away the conqueror exclaimed:
"I'll not! I tell you I won't maim you, free or no free! Get up!"
So Woodhull knew his eyes were spared, whatever might be the pain of the sore nerves along the socket bone.