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；