the Master's nose. But the pals pushed in between 'em.

"He tried to poison the Kid!" shouts the Master.

"Oh, one fight at a time," says the referee. "Get into the ring,
Jerry. We're waiting." So we went into the ring.

I never could just remember what did happen in that ring. He give me
no time to spring. He fell on me like a horse. I couldn't keep my
feet against him, and though, as I saw, he could get his hold when he
liked, he wanted to chew me over a bit first. I was wondering if
they'd be able to pry him off me, when, in the third round, he took
his hold; and I began to drown, just as I did when I fell into the
river off the Red C slip. He closed deeper and deeper, on my throat,
and everything went black and red and bursting; and then, when I were
sure I were dead, the handlers pulled him off, and the Master give me
a kick that brought me to. But I couldn't move none, or even wink,
both eyes being shut with lumps.

"He's a cur!" yells the Master, "a sneaking, cowardly cur. He lost
the fight for me," says he, "because he's a---------cowardly cur."
And he kicks me again in the lower ribs, so that I go sliding across
the sawdust. "There's gratitude fer yer," yells the Master. "I've fed
that dog, and nussed that dog, and housed him like a prince; and now
he puts his tail between his legs, and sells me out, he does. He's a
coward; I've done with him, I am. I'd sell him for a pipeful of
tobacco." He picked me up by the tail, and swung me for the men-folks
to see. "Does any gentleman here want to buy a dog," he says, "to
make into sausage-meat?" he says. "That's all he's good for."