At
length even his good temper was powerless to avert it, and the
wrestling-match took place. Jack Armstrong soon found that he had
tackled a man as strong and skilful as himself; and his friends,
seeing him likely to get the worst of it, swarmed to his
assistance, almost succeeding, by tripping and kicking, in
getting Lincoln down. At the unfairness of this Lincoln became
suddenly and furiously angry, put forth his entire strength,
lifted the pride of Clary's Grove in his arms like a child, and
holding him high in the air, almost choked the life out of him.
It seemed for a moment as though a general fight must follow; but
even while Lincoln's fierce rage compelled their respect, his
quickly returning self-control won their admiration, and the
crisis was safely passed. Instead of becoming enemies and leaders
in a neighborhood feud, as might have been expected, the two grew
to be warm friends, the affection thus strangely begun lasting
through life. They proved useful to each other in various ways,
and years afterward Lincoln made ample amends for his rough
treatment of the other's throat by saving the neck of Jack
Armstrong's son from the halter in a memorable trial for murder.
The Clary's Grove "boys" voted Lincoln "the cleverest fellow that
had ever broke into the settlement," and thereafter took as much
pride in his peaceableness and book-learning as they did in the
rougher and more questionable accomplishments of their
discomfited leader.
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