"I tell you what," said Heise, "we'll have a tournament. Marcus and I
will rastle, and Doc and Ryer, and then the winners will rastle each
other."
The women clapped their hands excitedly. This would be exciting. Trina
cried:
"Better let me hold your money, Mac, and your keys, so as you won't lose
them out of your pockets." The men gave their valuables into the keeping
of their wives and promptly set to work.
The dentist thrust Ryer down without even changing his grip; Marcus and
the harness-maker struggled together for a few moments till Heise all at
once slipped on a bit of turf and fell backwards. As they toppled over
together, Marcus writhed himself from under his opponent, and, as they
reached the ground, forced down first one shoulder and then the other.
"All right, all right," panted the harness-maker, goodnaturedly, "I'm
down. It's up to you and Doc now," he added, as he got to his feet.
The match between McTeague and Marcus promised to be interesting. The
dentist, of course, had an enormous advantage in point of strength,
but Marcus prided himself on his wrestling, and knew something about
strangle-holds and half-Nelsons. The men drew back to allow them a free
space as they faced each other, while Trina and the other women rose to
their feet in their excitement.
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