But he principally owed his popularity to the fact that the bully of the locality picked a quarrel with him, and, to the astonishment of those present, Mark invited him to go outside.
"You had better make it up with him, mate," a man sitting by his side whispered.

"He was in the prize ring at one time, and thrashed big Mike Hartley at Kennington.

He had to give it up owing to having fought a cross.

He would kill you in five minutes." "I will chance that," Mark said quietly, as he moved towards the door.
"I don't think that he is stronger than I am, and I can use my fists a bit, too." By the time they had taken off their upper garments a crowd had assembled.

The news that a hawker was going to stand up against Black Jim circulated rapidly, and caused intense excitement.