.'An'wot'smore,'etreatsyerlikeone.Iknow'oogiveyerthetblackeyethetshowswhat'ethinksofyer!An'serveyerbloomin'wellrightif'e'dgiveyeroneinbotheyes!'
Mrs.Blakestonstoodcloseinfrontofher,herheavyjawprotrudedandthefrownofhereyebrowsdarkandstern.Foramomentshestoodsilent,contemplatingLiza,whilethesurrounderslookedoninbreathlessinterest.
'Yerdirtylittlebitch,you!'shesaidatlast.'Tikethat!'andwithheropenhandshegaveherasharpsmackonthecheek.
Lizastartedbackwithacryandputherhanduptoherface.
'An'tikethet!'addedMrs.Blakeston,repeatingtheblow.Then,gatheringupthespittleinhermouth,shespatinLiza'sface.
Lizasprangonher,andwithherhandsspreadoutlikeclawsburiedhernailsinthewoman'sfaceanddrewthemdownhercheeks.Mrs.Blakestoncaughtholdofherhairwithbothhandsandtuggedatitashardasshecould.Buttheywereimmediatelyseparated.
''Ere,'old'ard!'saidsomeofthemen.'Fightitahtfairandsquare.Don'tgoscratchin'andmaulin'likethet.'
'I'llfight'er,Idon'tmind!'shoutedMrs.Blakeston,tuckinguphersleevesandsavagelyglaringatheropponent.
Lizastoodinfrontofher,paleandtremblingasshelookedatherenemy,andsawthelongredmarksofhernails,withbloodcomingfromoneortwoofthem,sheshrankback.
'Idon'twantterfight,'shesaidhoarsely.
'Na,Idon'tsupposeyerdo,'hissedtheother,'butyer'lldamnwell'aveter!'
'She'seversomuchbiggerthanmeI'vegotnochanst,'addedLizatearfully.
'Youshould'avethoughtofthetbefore.Comeon!'andwiththesewordsMrs.Blakestonrusheduponher.Shehitherwithbothfistsoneaftertheother.Lizadidnottrytoguardherself,butimitatingthewoman'smotion,hitoutwithherownfistsandforaminuteortwotheycontinuedthus,rainingblowsononeanotherwiththesamewindmillmotionofthearms.ButLizacouldnotstandagainsttheotherwoman'sweighttheblowscamedownheavyandrapidalloverherfaceandhead.Sheputupherhandstocoverherfaceandturnedherheadaway,whileMrs.Blakestonkeptonhittingmercilessly.
'Time!'shoutedsomeofthemen—'Time!'andMrs.Blakestonstoppedtorestherself.
'Itdon'tseem'ardlyfairtosetthemtwoontergether.Liza'sgotnochanstagainstabigwomanlikethet,'saidamanamongthecrowd.
'Well,it'ser'ownfault,'answeredawoman'shedidn'toughtermessaboutwith'er'usbind.'
'Well,Idon'tthinkit'sright,'addedanotherman.'She'sgettin'ittoomuch.'
'An'serve'errighttoo!'saidoneofthewomen.'Shedeservesallshegetsan'adamnsightmoreinterthebargain.'
'Quiteright,'putinathird'awoman'sgotnorighttertikesomeone's'usbindfrom'er.An'ifshedoesshe'sbloomin'luckyifshegitsoffwitha'idin'—thet'swotIthink.'
'SodoI.ButIwouldn't'avethoughtitofLiza.Ineverthoughtshewasawrong'un.'
'Prettyspecimensheis!'saidalittledarkwoman,wholookedlikeaJewess.'Ifshemessedabahtwithmyoldman,I'dstick'er—IswearIwould!'
'Nowshe'sbeencarryin'onwithone,she'lltryan'gitothers—yous