Theirshootingmatchhadawakenedaspiritofrivalryinthemen，andtherestoftheafternoonwaspassedinathleticexercisesbetweenthem。Thewomensatontheslopeofthegrass，theirhatsandgloveslaidaside，watchingthemenastheystrovetogether。Arousedbythelittlefemininecriesofwonderandtheclappingoftheirunglovedpalms，theselatterbegantoshowoffatonce。Theytookofftheircoatsandvests，eventheirnecktiesandcollars，andworkedthemselvesintoalatherofperspirationforthesakeofmakinganimpressionontheirwives。Theyranhundred-yardsprintsonthecinderpathandexecutedclumsyfeatsontheringsandontheparallelbars。Theyevenfoundahugeroundstoneonthebeachand“puttheshot“forawhile。Aslongasitwasaquestionofagility，Marcuswaseasilythebestofthefour；butthedentist’senormousstrength，hiscrude，untutoredbruteforce，wasamatterofwonderfortheentireparty。McTeaguecrackedEnglishwalnuts——takenfromthelunchbaskets——inthehollowofhisarm，andtossedtheroundstoneafullfivefeetbeyondtheirbestmark。Heisebelievedhimselftobeparticularlystronginthewrists，butthedentist，usingbutonehand，twistedacaneoutofHeise’stwowithawrenchthatallbutsprainedtheharness-
　　maker’sarm。Thenthedentistraisedweightsandchinnedhimselfontheringstilltheythoughthewouldnevertire。
　　Hisgreatsuccessquiteturnedhishead；hestruttedbackandforthinfrontofthewomen，hischestthrownout，andhisgreatmouthperpetuallyexpandedinatriumphantgrin。
　　Ashefelthisstrengthmoreandmore，hebegantoabuseit；
　　hedomineeredovertheothers，grippingsuddenlyattheirarmstilltheysquirmedwithpain，andslappingMarcusonthebacksothathegaspedandgaggedforbreath。Thechildishvanityofthegreatfellowwasasundisguisedasthatofaschoolboy。Hebegantotellofwonderfulfeatsofstrengthhehadaccomplishedwhenhewasayoungman。Why，atonetimehehadknockeddownahalf-grownheiferwithablowofhisfistbetweentheeyes，sure，andtheheiferhadjuststiffenedoutandtrembledalloveranddiedwithoutgettingup。
　　McTeaguetoldthisstoryagain，andyetagain。Allthroughtheafternoonhecouldbeoverheardrelatingthewondertoanyonewhowouldlisten，exaggeratingtheeffectofhisblow，inventingterrificdetails。Why，theheiferhadjustfrothedatthemouth，andhiseyeshadrolledup——ah，sure，hiseyesrolledupjustlikethat——andthebutcherhadsaidhisskullwasallmashedin——justallmashedin，sure，that’stheword——justasiffromasledge-hammer。
　　Notwithstandinghisreconciliationwiththedentistontheboat，Marcus’sgorgerosewithinhimatMcTeague’sboastingswagger。WhenMcTeaguehadslappedhimontheback，Marcushadretiredtosomelittledistancewhileherecoveredhisbreath，andglaredatthedentistfiercelyashestrodeupanddown，gloryingintheadmiringglancesofthewomen。
　　“Ah，one-horsedentist，“hemutteredbetweenhisteeth。
　　“Ah，zinc-plugger，cow-killer，I’dliketoshowyouonce，youovergrownmucker，you——you——COW-KILLER！“
　　Whenherejoinedthegroup，hefoundthempreparingforawrestlingbout。
　　“Itellyouwhat，“saidHeise，“we’llhaveatournament。
　　MarcusandIwillrastle，andDocandRyer，andthenthewinnerswillrastleeachother。“
　　Thewomenclappedtheirhandsexcitedly。Thiswouldbeexciting。Trinacried：
　　“Betterletmeholdyourmoney，Mac，andyourkeys，soasyouwon’tlosethemoutofyourpockets。“Themengavetheirvaluablesintothekeepingoftheirwivesandpromptlysettowork。
　　ThedentistthrustRyerdownwithoutevenchanginghisgrip；
　　Marcusandtheharness-makerstruggledtogetherforafewmomentstillHeiseallatonceslippedonabitofturfandfellbackwards。Astheytoppledovertogether，Marcuswrithedhimselffromunderhisopponent，and，astheyreachedtheground，forceddownfirstoneshoulderandthentheother。
　　“Allright，allright，“pantedtheharness-maker，good-
　　naturedly，“I’mdown。It’suptoyouandDocnow，“headded，ashegottohisfeet。
　　ThematchbetweenMcTeagueandMarcuspromisedtobeinteresting。Thedentist，ofcourse，hadanenormousadvantageinpointofstrength，butMarcuspridedhimselfonhiswrestling，andknewsomethingaboutstrangle-holdsandhalf-Nelsons。Themendrewbacktoallowthemafreespaceastheyfacedeachother，whileTrinaandtheotherwomenrosetotheirfeetintheirexcitement。
　　“IbetMacwillthrowhim，allthesame，“saidTrina。
　　“Allready！“criedRyer。
　　ThedentistandMarcussteppedforward，eyeingeachothercautiously。Theycircledaroundtheimprompturing。Marcuswatchingeagerlyforanopening。Hegroundhisteeth，tellinghimselfhewouldthrowMcTeagueifitkilledhim。
　　Ah，he’dshowhimnow。Suddenlythetwomencaughtateachother；Marcuswenttohisknees。Thedentistthrewhisvastbulkonhisadversary’sshouldersand，thrustingahugepalmagainsthisface，pushedhimbackwardsanddownwards。Itwasoutofthequestiontoresistthatenormousstrength。
　　Marcuswrenchedhimselfoverandfellfacedownwardontheground。
　　McTeagueroseontheinstantwithagreatlaughofexultation。
　　“You’redown！“heexclaimed。
　　Marcusleapedtohisfeet。
　　“Downnothing，“hevociferated，withclenchedfists。“Downnothing，bydamn！Yougottothrowmeso’smyshoulderstouch。
　　McTeaguewasstalkingabout，swellingwithpride。
　　“Hoh，you’redown。Ithrewyou。Didn’tIthrowhim，Trina？
　　Hoh，youcan’trastleME。“
　　Marcuscaperedwithrage。
　　“Youdidn’t！youdidn’t！youdidn’t！andyoucan’t！Yougottogivemeanothertry。“
　　Theothermencamecrowdingup。Everybodywastalkingatonce。
　　“He’sright。“
　　“Youdidn’tthrowhim。“
　　“Bothhisshouldersatthesametime。“
　　TrinaclappedandwavedherhandatMcTeaguefromwhereshestoodonthelittleslopeoflawnabovethewrestlers。
　　Marcusbrokethroughthegroup，shakingalloverwithexcitementandrage。
　　“Itellyouthatain’ttheWAYtorastle。You’vegottothrowamanso’shisshoulderstouch。Yougottogivemeanotherbout。“
　　“That’sstraight，“putinHeise，“bothhisshouldersdownatthesametime。Tryitagain。YouandSchoulerhaveanothertry。“
　　McTeaguewasbewilderedbysomuchsimultaneoustalk。Hecouldnotmakeoutwhatitwasallabout。CouldhehaveoffendedMarcusagain？
　　“What？What？Huh？Whatisit？“heexclaimedinperplexity，lookingfromonetotheother。
　　“Comeon，youmustrastlemeagain，“shoutedMarcus。
　　“Sure，sure，“criedthedentist。“I’llrastleyouagain。
　　I’llrastleeverybody，“hecried，suddenlystruckwithanidea。Trinalookedoninsomeapprehension。
　　“Markgetssomad，“shesaid，halfaloud。
　　“Yes，“admittedSelina。“MisterSchouler’sgotanawfulquicktemper，butheain’tafraidofanything。“
　　“Allready！“shoutedRyer。
　　ThistimeMarcuswasmorecareful。Twice，asMcTeaguerushedathim，heslippedcleverlyaway。Butasthedentistcameinathirdtime，withhisheadbowed，Marcus，raisinghimselftohisfullheight，caughthimwithbotharmsaroundtheneck。Thedentistgrippedathimandrentawaythesleeveofhisshirt。Therewasagreatlaugh。
　　“Keepyourshirton，“criedMrs。Ryer。
　　Thetwomenweregrapplingateachotherwildly。Thepartycouldhearthempantingandgruntingastheylaboredandstruggled。Theirbootstoreupgreatclodsofturf。
　　Suddenlytheycametothegroundwithatremendousshock。
　　Butevenastheywereintheactoffalling，Marcus，likeaveryeel，writhedinthedentist’sclaspandfelluponhisside。McTeaguecrasheddownuponhimlikethecollapseofafelledox。
　　“Now，yougottaturnhimonhisback，“shoutedHeisetothedentist。“Heain’tdownifyoudon’t。“
　　WithhishugesalientchindiggingintoMarcus’sshoulder，thedentistheavedandtugged。Hisfacewasflaming，hishugeshockofyellowhairfelloverhisforehead，mattedwithsweat。Marcusbegantoyielddespitehisfranticefforts。Oneshoulderwasdown，nowtheotherbegantogo；
　　gradually，graduallyitwasforcedover。Thelittleaudiencehelditsbreathinthesuspenseofthemoment。
　　Selinabrokethesilence，callingoutshrilly：
　　“Ain’tDoctorMcTeaguejustthatstrong！“
　　Marcusheardit，andhisfurycameinstantlytoahead。
　　RageathisdefeatatthehandsofthedentistandbeforeSelina’seyes，thehatehestillborehisold-time“pal“andtheimpotentwrathofhisownpowerlessnessweresuddenlyunleashed。
　　“Goddamnyou！getoffofme，“hecriedunderhisbreath，spittingthewordsasasnakespitsitsvenom。Thelittleaudienceutteredacry。WiththeoathMarcushadtwistedhisheadandhadbittenthroughthelobeofthedentist’sear。Therewasasuddenflashofbright-redblood。
　　Thenfollowedaterriblescene。ThebrutethatinMcTeaguelaysoclosetothesurfaceleapedinstantlytolife，monstrous，nottoberesisted。Hesprangtohisfeetwithashrillandmeaninglessclamor，totallyunliketheordinarybassofhisspeakingtones。Itwasthehideousyellingofahurtbeast，thesquealingofawoundedelephant。Heframednowords；intherushofhigh-pitchedsoundthatissuedfromhiswide-openmouththerewasnothingarticulate。Itwassomethingnolongerhuman；itwasratheranechofromthejungle。
　　Sluggishenoughandslowtoangeronordinaryoccasions，McTeaguewhenfinallyarousedbecameanotherman。Hisragewasakindofobsession，anevilmania，thedrunkennessofpassion，theexaltedandpervertedfuryoftheBerserker，blindanddeaf，athinginsensate。
　　AsherosehecaughtMarcus’swristinbothhishands。