Part 29 (1/2)
said the lad.
At first glowering glances were cast in Tad's direction. They were of half a mind to punish him in their own way.
”You said it was to be a fair fight,” spoke up the lad. ”Has it been?”
There was a momentary silence.
”The kid's right,” exclaimed a cowman. ”He cleaned up Bob fair and square. I reckon you kin go, now.”
”Thank you.”
”Hold on a minute. Not so fast, young fellow. I'm kinder curious like to know how ye put Bob over yer head like that!” asked another.
”It was a simple little j.a.panese wrestling trick,” laughed the boy.
”Kin ye do that to me?”
”I don't know.”
”Well, yer going ter try and right here and now.”
”All right, come over here on the gra.s.s where the ground isn't so hard. If I succeed in doing it, though, you must agree not to get mad. I can't fight you, you know. You are too big for me.”
The cowman grinned significantly, and strode over to the place indicated by Tad Butler.
”Now what d'ye want me ter do?” he demanded, leering. ”Yer see I'm willing?”
”Strike at me, if you wish. I don't care how you go about it,”
replied Tad.
”Here goes!”
The cowman launched a terrific blow with his right. Tad sprang back laughing.
”If that had ever hit me, you never would have known how the other trick is worked,” he said, while the cowboys laughed uproariously at the fellow's surprise when he found that his fist had not landed.
”Guess the kid ain't no slouch, eh, Jim?” jeered one.
Jim let go another, then a third one. The third blow proved his undoing. The next instant Jim's boots were describing a half circle in the air over Tad Butler's head. His revolvers slipping from their holsters in transit, dropped to the ground and Jim landed flat on his back with a mighty grunt.
He was up with a roar, his right hand dropping instinctively to his empty holster.
”Wh-o-o-o-e!” warned the fellow's companions. ”No fair, Jim. No fair. He said as he'd do it, and he did. Kid, you'd clean out the whole outfit, give you time, I reckon.”
Jim pulled himself together, restored his weapons to their places, and walked over to Tad, extending his hand.
”That was a dizzy wallop ye give me, pardner,” he said, with a sheepish grin. ”If ye'll show me how it's did, I'll call it square.”