Ohno，theroadwastoofardistantformetohearthenoiseofanythingmovingalongit。AgainIlistened，andnowIdistinctlyheardthesoundofwheels，whichseemedtobeapproachingthedingle；nearerandnearertheydrew，andpresentlythesoundofwheelswasblendedwiththemurmurofvoices。AnonIheardaboisterousshout，whichseemedtoproceedfromtheentranceofthedingle。’Herearefolksathand，’saidI，lettingtheshaftofthecartfalltotheground；’isitpossiblethattheycanbecominghere？’Mydoubtsonthatpoint，ifIentertainedany，weresoondispelled；thewheels，whichhadceasedmovingforamomentortwo，wereonceagaininmotion，andwerenowevidentlymovingdownthewindingpathwhichledtomyretreat。Leavingmycart，Icameforwardandplacedmyselfneartheentranceoftheopenspace，withmyeyesfixedonthepathdownwhichmyunexpected，andImaysayunwelcome，visitorswerecoming。PresentlyIheardastampingorsliding，asifofahorseinsomedifficulty；thenaloudcurse，andthenextmomentappearedamanandahorseandcart；theformerholdingtheheadofthehorseuptopreventhimfromfalling，ofwhichhewasindanger，owingtotheprecipitousnatureofthepath。Whilstthusoccupied，theheadofthemanwasavertedfromme。When，however，hehadreachedthebottomofthedescent，heturnedhishead，andperceivingme，asIstoodbareheaded，withouteithercoatorwaistcoat，abouttwoyardsfromhim，hegaveasuddenstart，soviolentthatthebackwardmotionofhishandhadnearlyflungthehorseuponhishaunches。
’Whydon’tyoumoveforward？’saidavoicefrombehind，apparentlythatofafemale；’youarestoppinguptheway，andweshallbealldownupononeanother’；andIsawtheheadofanotherhorseovertoppingthebackofthecart。
’Whydon’tyoumoveforward，Jack？’saidanothervoice，alsoafemale，yethigherupthepath。
Themanstirrednot，butremainedstaringatmeintheposturewhichhehadassumedonfirstperceivingme，hisbodyverymuchdrawnback，hisleftfootfarinadvanceofhisright，andwithhisrighthandstillgraspingthehalterofthehorse，whichgavewaymoreandmore，tillitwascleandownonitshaunches。
’What’sthematter？’saidthevoicewhichIhadlastheard。
’Getbackwithyou，Belle，Moll，’saidtheman，stillstaringatme；’here’ssomethingnotovercannyorcomfortable。’
’Whatisit？’saidthesamevoice；’letmepass，Moll，andI’llsooncleartheway’；andIheardakindofrushingdownthepath。
’Youneednotbeafraid，’saidI，addressingmyselftotheman，’I
meanyounoharm；Iamawandererlikeyourself-comeheretoseekforshelter-youneednotbeafraid；IamaRomanchabobymatriculation-oneoftherightsort，andnomistake-Good-daytoye，brother；Ibidyewelcome。’
Themaneyedmesuspiciouslyforamoment-then，turningtohishorsewithaloudcurse，hepulledhimupfromhishaunches，andledhimandthecartfartherdowntoonesideofthedingle，muttering，ashepassedme，’Afraid!Hm!’
Idonotrememberevertohaveseenamoreruffianly-lookingfellow；hewasaboutsixfeethigh，withanimmenselyathleticframe；hisfacewasblackandbluff，andsportedanimmensepairofwhiskers，butwithhereandthereagrayhair，forhisagecouldnotbemuchunderfifty。Heworeafadedbluefrock-coat，corduroys，andhighlows；onhisblackheadwasakindofrednightcap，roundhisbullneckaBarcelonahandkerchief-Ididnotlikethelookofthemanatall。
’Afraid!’growledthefellow，proceedingtounharnesshishorse；
’thatwastheword，Ithink。’
Butotherfigureswerenowalreadyuponthescene。Dashingpasttheotherhorseandcart，whichbythistimehadreachedthebottomofthepass，appearedanexceedinglytallwoman，orrathergirl，forshecouldscarcelyhavebeenaboveeighteen；shewasdressedinatightbodiceandabluestuffgown；hat，bonnet，orcapshehadnone，andherhair，whichwasflaxen，hungdownonhershouldersunconfined；hercomplexionwasfair，andherfeatureshandsome，withadeterminedbutopenexpression-shewasfollowedbyanotherfemale，aboutforty，stoutandvulgar-looking，atwhomIscarcelyglanced，mywholeattentionbeingabsorbedbythetallgirl。
’What’sthematter，Jack？’saidthelatter，lookingattheman。
’Onlyafraid，that’sall，’saidtheman，stillproceedingwithhiswork。
’Afraidatwhat-atthatlad？why，helookslikeaghost-Iwouldengagetothrashhimwithonehand。’
’Youmightbeatmewithnohandsatall，’saidI，’fairdamsel，onlybylookingatme-Ineversawsuchafaceandfigure，bothregal-why，youlooklikeIngeborg，QueenofNorway；shehadtwelvebrothers，youknow，andcouldlickthemall，thoughtheywereheroes：-
OnDovrefeldinNorwayWereoncetogetherseenThetwelveheroicbrothersOfIngeborgthequeen。’
’Noneofyourchaffing，youngfellow，’saidthetallgirl，’orI
willgiveyouwhatshallmakeyouwipeyourface；becivil，oryouwillrueit。’
’Well，perhapsIwasapegtoohigh，’saidI；’Iaskyourpardon-
here’ssomethingabitlower：-
AsIwasjawingtothegavyeckdivvusImetonthedrommiroRommanychi-’
NoneofyourRommanychies，youngfellow，’saidthetallgirl，lookingmoremenacinglythanbefore，andclenchingherfist；’youhadbetterbecivil，Iamnoneofyourchies；andthoughIkeepcompanywithgypsies，or，tospeakmoreproper，half-and-halfs，I
wouldhaveyoutoknowthatIcomeofChristianbloodandparents，andwasborninthegreathouseofLongMelford。’
’Ihavenodoubt，’saidI，’thatitwasagreathouse；judgingfromyoursizeIshouldn’twonderifyouwereborninachurch。’
’Stay，Belle，’saidtheman，puttinghimselfbeforetheyoungvirago，whowasabouttorushuponme，’myturnisfirst’-then，advancingtomeinamenacingattitude，hesaid，withalookofdeepmalignity，’“Afraid，“wastheword，wasn’tit？’
’Itwas，’saidI，’butIthinkIwrongedyou；Ishouldhavesaid，aghast；youexhibitedeverysymptomofonelabouringunderuncontrollablefear。’
Thefellowstaredatmewithalookofstupidferocity，andappearedtobehesitatingwhethertostrikeornot：erehecouldmakeuphismind，thetallgirlstartedforward，crying，’He’schaffing；letmeathim’；andbeforeIcouldputmyselfonmyguard，shestruckmeablowonthefacewhichhadnearlybroughtmetotheground。
’Enough，’saidI，puttingmyhandtomycheek；’youhavenowperformedyourpromise，andmademewipemyface：nowbepacified，andtellmefairlythegroundsofthisquarrel。’
’Grounds!’saidthefellow；’didn’tyousayIwasafraid；andifyouhadn’t，whogaveyouleavetocamponmyground？’
’Isityourground？’saidI。
’Aprettyquestion，’saidthefellow；’asifalltheworlddidn’tknowthat。DoyouknowwhoIam？’
’IguessIdo，’saidI；’unlessIammuchmistaken，youarehewhomfolkscallthe“FlamingTinman。“Totellyouthetruth，I’mgladwehavemet，forIwishedtoseeyou。Theseareyourtwowives，I
suppose；Igreetthem。There’snoharmdone-there’sroomenoughhereforallofus-weshallsoonbegoodfriends，Idaresay；andwhenwearealittlebetteracquainted，I’lltellyoumyhistory。’
’Well，ifthatdoesn’tbeatall!’saidthefellow。
’Idon’tthinkhe’schaffingnow，’saidthegirl，whoseangerseemedtohavesubsidedonasudden；’theyoungmanspeakscivilenough。’
’Civil!’saidthefellow，withanoath；’butthat’sjustlikeyou；
withyouitisablow，andallover。Civil!Isupposeyouwouldhavehimstayhere，andgetintoallmysecrets，andhearallImayhavetosaytomytwomorts。’
’Twomorts!’saidthegirl，kindlingup，’wherearethey？Speakforone，andnomore。Iamnomortofyours，whateversomeoneelsemaybe。Itellyouonething，BlackJohn，orAnselo，-fort’otherain’tyourname，-thesamethingItoldtheyoungmanhere，becivil，oryouwillrueit。’
Thefellowlookedatthegirlfuriously，buthisglancesoonquailedbeforehers；hewithdrewhiseyes，andcastthemonmylittlehorse，whichwasfeedingamongstthetrees。’What’sthis？’
saidhe，rushingforwardandseizingtheanimal。’Why，asIamalive，thisisthehorseofthatmumpingvillainSlingsby。’
’It’shisnolonger；Iboughtitandpaidforit。’
’It’sminenow，’saidthefellow；’IsworeIwouldseizeitthenexttimeIfounditonmybeat；ay，andbeatthemastertoo。’
’IamnotSlingsby。’
’All’soneforthat。’
’Youdon’tsayyouwillbeatme？’
’Afraidwastheword。’
’I’msickandfeeble。’
’Holdupyourfists。’
’Won’tthehorsesatisfyyou？’
’Horsenorbellowseither。’
’Nomercy，then？’
’Here’satyou。’
’Mindyoureyes，Jack。There，you’vegotit。Ithoughtso，’
shoutedthegirl，asthefellowstaggeredbackfromasharpblowintheeye；’Ithoughthewaschaffingatyouallalong。’
’Nevermind，Anselo。Youknowwhattodo-goin，’saidthevulgarwoman，whohadhithertonotspokenaword，butwhonowcameforwardwithallthelookofafury；’goinapopli；you’llsmashtenlikehe。’
TheFlamingTinmantookheradvice，andcameinbentonsmashing，butstoppedshortonreceivingaleft-handedblowonthenose。
’You’llneverbeattheFlamingTinmaninthatway，’saidthegirl，lookingatmedoubtfully。
AndsoIbegantothinkmyself，when，inthetwinklingofaneye，theFlamingTinman，disengaginghimselfofhisfrock-coat，anddashingoffhisrednight-cap，camerushinginmoredesperatelythanever。Toaflushhitwhichhereceivedinthemouthhepaidaslittleattentionasawildbullwouldhavedone；inamomenthisarmswerearoundme，andinanotherhehadhurledmedown，fallingheavilyuponme。Thefellow’sstrengthappearedtobetremendous。
’Payhimoffnow，’saidthevulgarwoman。TheFlamingTinmanmadenoreply，but，plantinghiskneeonmybreast，seizedmythroatwithtwohugehornyhands。Igavemyselfupfordead，andprobablyshouldhavebeensoinanotherminutebutforthetallgirl，whocaughtholdofthehandkerchiefwhichthefellowworeroundhisneck，withagraspnearlyaspowerfulusthatwithwhichhepressedmythroat。
’Doyoucallthatfairplay？’saidshe。
’Handsoff，Belle，’saidtheotherwoman；’doyoucallitfairplaytointerfere？handsoff，orI’llbedownuponyoumyself。’
ButBellepaidnoheedtotheinjunction，andtuggedsohardatthehandkerchiefthattheFlamingTinmanwasnearlythrottled；suddenlyrelinquishinghisholdofme，hestartedonhisfeet，andaimedablowatmyfairpreserver，whoavoidedit，butsaidcoolly：-
’Finisht’otherbusinessfirst，andthenI’myourwomanwheneveryoulike；butfinishitfairly-nofoulplaywhenI’mby-I’llbetheboy’ssecond，andMollcanpickupyouwhenhehappenstoknockyoudown。’
Thebattleduringthenexttenminutesragedwithconsiderablefury，butitsohappenedthatduringthistimeIwasneverabletoknocktheFlamingTinmandown，butonthecontraryreceivedsixknock-downblowsmyself。’Icanneverstandthis，’saidI，asI
satonthekneeofBelle，’IamafraidImustgivein；theFlamingTinmanhitsveryhard，’andIspatoutamouthfulofblood。
’Sureenoughyou’llneverbeattheFlamingTinmaninthewayyoufight-it’sofnouseflippingattheFlamingTinmanwithyourlefthand；whydon’tyouuseyourright？’
’BecauseI’mnothandywithit，’saidI；andthengettingup，I
oncemoreconfrontedtheFlamingTinman，andstruckhimsixblowsforhisone，buttheywereallleft-handedblows，andtheblowwhichtheFlamingTinmangavemeknockedmeoffmylegs。
’Now，willyouuseLongMelford？’saidBelle，pickingmeup。
’Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbyLongMelford，’saidI，gaspingforbreath。
’Why，thislongrightofyours，’saidBelle，feelingmyrightarm；
’ifyoudo，Ishouldn’twonderifyouyetstandachance。’AndnowtheFlamingTinmanwasoncemoreready，muchmorereadythanmyself。I，however，rosefrommysecond’skneeaswellasmyweaknesswouldpermitme。Onhecame，strikingleftandright，appearingalmostasfreshastowindandspiritaswhenhefirstcommencedthecombat，thoughhiseyeswereconsiderablyswelled，andhisnetherlipwascutintwo；onhecame，strikingleftandright，andIdidnotlikehisblowsatall，oreventhewindofthem，whichwasanythingbutagreeable，andIgavewaybeforehim。
Atlastheaimedablowwhich，hadittakenfulleffect，woulddoubtlesshaveendedthebattle，butowingtohisslipping，thefistonlygrazedmyleftshoulder，andcamewithterrificforceagainstatree，closetowhichIhadbeendriven；beforetheTinmancouldrecoverhimself，Icollectedallmystrength，andstruckhimbeneaththeear，andthenfelltothegroundcompletelyexhausted；