I was now too late; and, holding out my arms to catch
the blow, I ducked my head towards the savage.

I felt the keen blade cutting the flesh as it glanced along my shoulder.
I was but slightly wounded. He had missed his aim from my stooping so
suddenly; but the impetus brought our bodies together, and the next
moment we grappled.

We stumbled over a heap of rock, and for some moments struggled together
upon the ground, neither able to use his weapon. Again we rose, still
locked in the angry embrace; again we were falling with terrible force.
Something caught us in our descent. It shook; it gave way with a
crashing sound, and we fell headlong into the broad and brilliant light!

I was dazzled and blinded. I heard behind me a strange rumbling like
the noise made by falling timbers; but I heeded not that: I was too busy
to speculate upon causes.

The sudden shock had separated us, and both rose at the same instant,
again to grapple, and again to come together to the earth. We twisted
and wriggled over the ground, among weeds and thorny cacti. I was every
moment growing weaker, while the sinewy savage, used to such combats,
seemed to be gaining fresh nerve and breath. Thrice he had thrown me
under; but each time I had clutched his right arm, and prevented the
descending blow. I had succeeded in drawing my knife as we fell through
the wall; but my arm was also held fast, and I was unable to use it.

As we came to the ground for the fourth time, my antagonist fell under
me. A cry of agony passed from his lips; his head "coggled" over among
the weeds; and he lay in my arms without struggling.

I felt his grasp gradually relaxing. I looked in his face. His eyes
were glassy and upturned. Blood was gurgling through his teeth. I saw
that he was dead.

To my astonishment I saw this, for I knew I had not struck him as yet.
I was drawing my arm from under him to do so, when I noticed that he
ceased to resist. But the knife now caught my eye. It was red, blade
and haft, and so was the hand that clasped it.

As we fell I had accidentally held it point upward. My antagonist had
fallen upon the blade!

I now thought of my betrothed, and, untwining myself from the lithe and
nerveless limbs of the savage, I rose to my feet. The ranche was in
flames!

The roof had fallen in upon the brazero, and the dry shingles had caught
the blaze. Men were crawling out from the burning ruin, but not to run
away. No! Under