ast effort the big man put forth all his vast
strength in a final attempt to bear his enemy down.

Dunn resisted still, resisted, though the veins stood out like cords on
his brow, though a little trickle of blood crept from the corner of his
mouth and though his heart swelled almost to bursting.

There was a sound of many waters in his ears, the darkness all around
grew shot with little flames, he could hear some one breathing very
noisily and he was not sure whether this were himself or his adversary
till he realized that it was both of them. With one sudden, almost
superhuman effort, he heaved his great adversary up, but had not
strength enough left to do more than let him slip from his grasp to fall
on the ground, and with the effort he himself dropped forward on his
hands and knees, just as a lantern shone at a distance and a voice
cried:

"This way, Tom. Master John, Master John, where are you?"

CHAPTER III. A COINCIDENCE

Another voice answered from near by and Dunn scrambled hurriedly to his
feet.

He had but a moment in which to decide what to do, for these new
arrivals were coming at a run and would be upon him almost instantly if
he stayed where he was.

That they were friends of the man he had just overthrown and whose huge
bulk lay motionless in the darkness at his feet, seemed plain, and it
also seemed plain to him that the moment was not an opportune one for
offering explanations.

Swiftly he decided to slip away into the darkness. What had happened
might be cleared up later when he knew more and was more sure of his
ground; at present he must think first, he told himself, of the success
of his mission.

Physically, he was greatly exhausted and his gait was not so steady nor
his progress so silent and skillful as it had been before, as now he
hurried away from the scene of the combat.

But the two new-comers made no attempt to pursue him and indeed did not
seem to give his possible presence in the vicinity even a thought, as
with many muttered exclamations of dismay and anger, they stooped over
the body of his prostrate enemy.

It was evident they recognized him at once, and that he was the "Mr.
John" whose name they had called, for so they spoke of him to each other
as they busied themselves about him.

"I expect I've been a fool again," Dunn thought to himself ruefully, as
from a little distance, well-sheltered in the darkness, he crouched upon
the ground and listened and watched.