Jack was standing about four feet to the right, and, as he caught the boy’s eye, he gave a slight nod to his head, at the same time gazing intently over Nip’s left shoulder. It was an old trick, but it worked. The man saw the nod and quickly turned his head. Instantly Bob’s right foot came up with all his strength behind it, the toe of the snow-shoe catching the hunchback’s wrist. The revolver flew from his hand and was lost in the snow several feet away. With a hoarse cry of anger and pain the man sprang to recover the gun, but before he was half way to it Bob was upon him.
They came down in a heap of snow, Bob on the top. But despite his deformity, Nip was possessed of great strength, and Bob, while strong, was only a boy. To be sure he knew far more of the science of wrestling than did the man, but handicapped by the snow-shoes and the deep snow, there was little or no chance to bring his skill into play. It was a place where brute strength was at a premium. Over and over they tumbled, now one on top and then the other, each striving to get an advantageous hold.
At the same instant that Bob had jumped for Nip, Jack had leaped for the revolver. He found it quickly and thrust it into the pocket of his mackinaw and then hurried to his brother’s assistance. But so violently were they thrashing about in the snow that for some time he was unable to do more than stand close by and wait for a favorable opportunity.
Meanwhile neither seemed to be gaining any decided advantage. Once Bob had gotten a half Nelson around the man’s neck, but with a violent effort he had quickly broken the hold. Again, Nip being for the moment on top, had seized Bob by the throat, and exerting all his strength had nearly succeeded in shutting off the boy’s wind. For the moment Bob thought he was licked, but he managed to get hold of the man’s wrist, and with a violent jerk tore the fingers away. A moment later the opportunity for which Jack was watching came, and he was quick to take advantage of it.
Nip was again on top and had just drawn back his fist, evidently hoping to put an end to the fight then and there. To do this he was obliged to raise his head, and instantly Jack had him around the neck and exerting all his strength succeeded in pulling him over backward. This allowed Bob to work himself free, and before Nip could struggle to his knees, Jack had stepped back and drawn the revolver.
“Good boy Jack,” Bob shouted, as he struggled to his feet. “Keep him covered a minute till I get these shoes straightened out a bit and then we’ll tend to him.”
As for Nip, when he saw that the tables were turned against him, all his courage evaporated.
“Don’t shoot,” he whined, struggling to get to his feet.
“It’s different when the shoe’s on the other foot, isn’t it?” Jack taunted. “Now, if you want to get away with a whole skin, just hand over that deed,” he ordered.
“I ain’t got no deed,” the man declared sullenly. “I was only fooling when I asked yer how much ye’d give fer it.”