McKenna, in spite of the liquor he had been compelled to imbibe, still retained his mental faculties and physical strength in perfection—although, following the scheme he had started, he pretended to be more deeply intoxicated than when he first made his appearance at Dormer’s—and he scornfully looked upon his opponent’s portly form as he defiantly responded: “Do ye think, fur wan moment, that I’m afraid of the likes of you? Ye may live to larn better. I’ll bate ye fairly, an’ wid the coat on me back, at that!” The detective tossed only his hat aside and squared himself pluckily, while Dormer volunteered to act as his second, giving the word to his friends, who cheered lustily for the stranger. Mrs. Dormer had disappeared at the first signs of a rupture, and the bar took care of itself. Kelly seconded Frazer. The ring was formed and the two men entered it, Frazer confident in his great strength and the detective relying upon some experience in the manly art of self-defense. The contest commenced. At the outset McKenna acted purely on the defensive, only seeking to throw off or evade Frazer’s many unskillful but heavy strokes. He desired to study his antagonist’s tactics and test his muscle before using offensive measures. The result was, at the end of a protracted round, the smaller sparrer was dropped to the floor by a sledge-hammer blow, fair on the ear. First blood and first knock-down were claimed for the heavy-weight. But these were all he secured to boast of during the continuance of the fight—excepting severe punishment—as McKenna carried off the honors in five consecutive rounds, at the close of all of which he deftly sent his opponent to the earth, each time with a new wound of some sort to remember him by. Between the bouts Dormer would take him to their corner, place spirits to his principal’s lips, sponge off his face and arms in regular prize-ring fashion, and return him in due season for more work. The opposing man was equally well served by Kelly, but, after so many fast-following and disastrous defeats, his right eye being fully closed and useless, and the other badly damaged, Frazer could not be coaxed or driven to come forward to the mark again. Then his backers gave him up, and Kelly took him away, a badly whipped and quite crest-fallen bully. Victory was proclaimed by Dormer for McKenna, and the Pottsville Giant was in great glee, stroking the shoulder of his new-discovered pet and making grimaces that he intended to be pleasing, but which were more like demoniacal grins than smiles. Dormer shouted as Frazer went out: “Good! Good! for me laddy-buck from the West! He’s the true grit from head to toe! An’, hereafter, if anybody in Schuylkill County jist wants to bother wid him, they must deal wid Pat Dormer fust! An’ he’s no dawshy infant!” “I’ll have the laste taste of gin in mine!” said McKenna, “an’ I belave all here present will join us in drinkin’ confusion to all mane scuts and chates!”