"Get out of the road," growled Push Allen, viciously.
"This fellow," and Bat nodded calmly toward Big Slim, "is a good forty pounds less than you. Now, I happen to be a friend of his, and——"
But before he could speak another word, the pugilist aimed a furious blow at him. Bat stooped under it easily.
"——and," continued he, "I won't see you, or anybody else——"
Again came a terrific drive from Allen; but Bat put it aside deftly, and as he stepped forward, his power of body forced the other back.
"——put anything over on him," finished Scanlon.
"You won't, eh?" Push Allen glared like a tiger. "Well, let's see if you can stop me from putting over something on you."
Like a mad beast he rushed at the big athlete, his arms swinging in smashing blows. But not one of them landed; with an agility that made the spectators open their eyes, Bat side-stepped, and ducked, a confident smile upon his lips; then with incredible ease he stepped in and landed a clean, snappy hook which tumbled the pugilist over in a surprised heap.
A smothered shout went up; Duke Sheehan came from behind his bar as several men lifted the rather dazed fighting man to his feet.
"Now, look," spoke Sheehan, "this goes! Any saloon I keep is never intended for a battle-ground. So draw the curtain on that stuff of yours, Allen. It'll get me into trouble."