ng metallic, evidently a
watch.

As Sam saw all this he softly raised his hands to his lips after the
fashion of a boy about to moisten them so as to get a good grip. But it
was only in form, and as he did so he stepped softly from behind the
hanging rug and then onward slowly to within springing distance, when
with extended hands he crouched and sprang at the black, landed upon his
back, driving him forward, and gripped him tightly.

"Got you!" he muttered to himself, and this was perfectly true, but the
black did not lie quiet like the camel Sam had settled himself to ride.
For he began to act at once as if made of a combination of steel
springs. He swung himself sidewise as he felt Sam upon his back,
disorganised the butler's holding, and behaved in a thoroughly eel-like
fashion as he struggled hard to get away.

It was many years since Sam had engaged in such a struggle, but he had
not quite forgotten old, boyish encounters. The resistance stirred up
the latent temper within him, and though his holding was not what he had
meant it to be, it was fast, and he made it tighter, locking arms and
legs about his captive, and the next minute they were rolling over and
over, twisting and twining on the carpet, and panting hard as each
strove for the mastery.

Sam's intention had been to shout for help as soon as he had seized the
black, but he was too busy holding him, and all recollection of his
plans passed from his memory at once. All he could think of now was
that he must keep his prize, while it was perfectly evident that his
prize did not mean to be kept, but fought for his liberty with might and
main, while at the first encounter the writhing pair had come in contact
with one of the poles which supported the tent, the lamp had fallen, and
the place now, save for the dim starlight seen through the doorway, was
in utter darkness.

It was only working by touch, but Sam made good use of his muscles,
forgetting all about his stiffness, and for quite a couple of minutes
the panting and scuffling of the wrestling pair went on, till Sam found
himself upon his back with the black sitting upon his chest and a pair
of hands in close proximity to his throat.

But in spite of his being in the worse position Sam was not beaten. He
had fast hold of his enemy with his hands, and had thrown up his legs so
as to tighten them round those of his foe, and in this position both
held on as if trying to recover breath.

Then al