The wretch staggered to his feet with an oath and supported himself against the wall while I pacified Dix, who was licking his chops, his hair still up on his back, his eyes still on his enemy. "Are you hurt?" I asked, for, though still dizzy, the need to act had brought my senses back. "What business is that of yours?" he demanded brutally. "Wait a minute. I'll kill that d----d dog." The reply to my inquiry was so brutal that my anger rose. "You drunken beast! Say a word and I'll give you to him again and let him worry you like a rat. You see him! Keep back, Dix!" for the dog, recognizing my anger, had advanced a little and flattened himself to spring on the least provocation. "I didn't mean no offence," the fellow growled. "But I don't like a d----d dog to be jumpin' at me." "You don't! What did you mean by trying to murder me?" "I didn't try to murder you." "You did. I have no money--not a cent. I'm as poor as you are." "I wa'n't after no money." "What then? What had I ever done to you that you should be after me?" "I wa'n't after you." "You were. You tried to kill me. You've cut my head open and no thanks to you that you didn't kill me." "'T wa'n't me. 'T was that other fellow, the skunk that runned away and left me." "What's his name?" "I don' know. I never seen him before." "What are you lying to me for? What's his name and why was he after me? Tell me and I'll let you go--otherwise--I'll give you to the police." "I'll tell you this--he's a friend of a man you know." "Of a man I know? Who?" "He's a big man, too." "A big man! Do you mean--You don't mean Coll McSheen?" "I didn't tell you, did I? You can swear to that. Now give me five dollars and let me go." "I haven't any money at all, but I'll take you to a doctor and get your wound dressed. I have to go to one, too." "I don' want no doctor--I'm all right." "No, I won't give you up," I said, "if you'll tell me the truth. I'm not after you. If I'd wanted to give you up, I'd have fired this pistol and brought the police. Come on. But don't try to run off or I'll let you have it." He came along, at first surlily enough; but presently he appeared to get in a better temper, at least with me, and turned his abuse on his pal for deserting him. He declared that he had not meant to do me any harm, in fact, that he had only met the other man accidentally and did not know what he was going to do, etc. I was so fortunate as to find my friend Dr. Traumer at home, and he looked after the wound in the scoundrel's throat and then took a look at my hurt. "You had a close graze," he said, "but I don't think it is anything more serious than a bad scrape on your head, and a laceration and bruise on the shoulder."