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backward to the river's brim, where he tottered drunkenly for a moment and then

plunged backward into the shallow water.

Then Billy seized the other attacker by the shoulder and dragged him to his feet.

Do you want some, too, you big stiff?" he inquired.

The man spluttered and tried to break away, striking at Billy as he did so; but a

sudden punch, such a punch as Billy Byrne had once handed the surprised

Harlem Hurricane, removed from the mind of the tramp the last vestige of any

thought he might have harbored to do the newcomer bodily injury, and with it

removed all else from the man's mind, temporarily.

As the fellow slumped, unconscious, to the ground, the camper rose to his feet.

"Some wallop you have concealed in your sleeve, my friend," he said; "place it

there!" and he extended a slender, shapely hand.

Billy took it and shook it.

It don't get under the ribs like those verses of yours, though, bo," he returned.

It seems to have insinuated itself beneath this guy's thick skull," replied the

poetical one, "and it's a cinch my verses, nor any other would ever get there."

The tramp who had plumbed the depths of the creek's foot of water and two feet

of soft mud was crawling ashore.

Whadda YOU want now?" inquired Billy Byrne. "A piece o' soap?"

I'll get youse yet," spluttered the moist one through his watery whiskers.

Ferget it," admonished Billy, "an' hit the trail." He pointed toward the railroad

right of way. "An' you, too, John L," he added turning to the other victim of his

artistic execution, who was now sitting up. "Hike!"

Mumbling and growling the two unwashed shuffled away, and were presently lost

to view along the vanishing track.

The solitary camper had returned to his culinary effort, as unruffled and

unconcerned, apparently, as though naught had occurred to disturb his peaceful

solitude.

Sit down," he said after a moment, looking up at Billy, "and have a bite to eat

with me. Take that leather easy chair. The Louis Quatorze is too small and

spindle-legged for comfort." He waved his hand invitingly toward the sward beside

the fire.

162

The Mucker