What does the first convict claim about the second convict tried to do to him?

From the text, we can infer he wants to kill him.

But this man;" he had said all the rest, as if he had forgotten my being there; "did you notice anything in him?"
"He had a badly bruised face," said I, recalling what I hardly knew I knew.
"Not here?" exclaimed the man, striking his left cheek mercilessly, with the flat of his hand.
"Yes, there!"
"Where is he?" He crammed what little food was left, into the breast of his grey jacket. "Show me the way he went. I'll pull him down, like a bloodhound. Curse this iron on my sore leg! Give us hold of the file, boy."