"It's a pity you missed," said Cross, "but it's the best throw yet."
"And the game is ours," added Wilcox, "unless Briant manages to drop on to the pin. Look out!"
Briant took up his position, moving the quoit backwards and forwards once or twice, and aimed so well that, rising high in curve, it dropped right on to the pin.
"A ringer!" shouted Service triumphantly. "That makes us seven, and it is our game."
"No!" said Donagan, stepping forward, "the game is not yours."
"Why not?" asked Baxter.
"Because Briant cheated."
"Cheated!" said Briant.
"Yes! Cheated 1" said Donagan. "Briant was over the mark. He stepped in two feet."
"That he didn't," said Service.
"No, I didn't," said Briant. "And even if I did, it was a mistake, and I will not stand Donagan calling me a cheat!"
"Indeed! You won't stand it!" said Donagan.
"No, I will not !" replied Briant, getting very angry. "And first I'll prove that my feet were on the line."
"You can't!" said Webb and Cross.
"Well," said Briant, "there are my footmarks on the sand! And as Donagan must have known that, I tell him he's a liar!"
"A liar, am I?" said Donagan, stepping quietly towards him, jacket off, shirt sleeves tucked up, all ready and anxious for a fight.
Briant had recovered his temper, and stood quietly watching him as if he were ashamed to be the first to fight one of his comrades, and set an evil example to the colony.
"You were wrong to insult me, Donagan," he said "and you are wrong now to challenge me."
"Indeed!" said Donagan, in a tone of the profoundest contempt. "It is always wrong to challenge those who are afraid to defend themselves."
"I! afraid!"
