After a bit, however, the bully lifted a hand, and turning back into
the lighted room, walks up to one of the players, speaks a word or
two and disappears.

I sat up on the window seat, where till now I had been crouching for
fear the shaft of light should betray me, and presently (as I was
expecting) heard the latch of the back perch gently lifted, and
spied the heavy form of the bully coming softly over the grass.

Now, I would not have my readers prejudiced, and so may tell them
this was the first time in my life I had played the eavesdropper.
That I did so now I can never be glad enough, but 'tis true,
nevertheless, my conscience pricked me; and I was even making a
motion to withdraw when that occurred which would have fixed any
man's attention, whether he wish'd it or no.

The bully must have closed the door behind him but carelessly, for
hardly could he take a dozen steps when it opened again with a
scuffle, and the large house dog belonging to the "Crown" flew at
his heels with a vicious snarl and snap of the teeth.

'Twas enough to scare the coolest. But the fellow turn'd as if shot,
and before he could snap again, had gripped him fairly by the throat.
The struggle that follow'd I could barely see, but I heard the
horrible sounds of it--the hard, short breathing of the man, the
hoarse rage working in the dog's throat--and it turned me sick. The
dog--a mastiff--was fighting now to pull loose, and the pair swayed
this way and that in the dusk, panting and murderous.