his jaws snapped
at me like a mad beast. "Let go! damn you--let go!"

Crazed by the pain, I swerved to one side, and half fell, my grip torn
loose from about his arms, but as instantly closing again around his
lower body. He strained, but failed to break my grasp, and I should
have hurled him over the hip, but at that second Gaskins struck me, and
I went tumbling down, with the saloon keeper falling flat on top of me,
his pudgy fingers still clawing fiercely at my throat. It seemed as
though consciousness left my brain, crushed into death by those
gripping hands, and yet the spark of life remained, for I heard the
ex-preacher utter a yelp, which ended in a moan, as a blow struck him;
then Rale was jerked off me, and I sobbingly caught my breath, my
throat free. Into my dazed mind there echoed the sound of a voice.

"Is thet 'nough, Jack?--then holler. Damn yer, yer try thet agin, an'
I'll spill whut brains ye got all over this kintry. Yes, it's Tim
Kennedy talkin', an' he's talkin' ter ye. Now yer lie whar yer are.
Yer ain't killed, be ye, Knox?"

I managed to lift myself out of the dirt, still clutching for breath
but with my mind clearing.

"No; I guess I'm all right, Tim," I said, panting out the words with an
effort. "What's become of Kirby? Don't let him get away."

"I ain't likely to. He's a lyin' right whar yer dropped him. Holy
Smoke! it sounded ter me like ye hit him with a pole-axe. I got his
gun, an' thet's whut's makin' this skunk hold so blame still--oh, yes,
I will, Jack Rale; I'm just a achin' fer ter let ye hav' it."

"And the other fellow? He hit me."

"My ol' frien', Gaskins; thet's him, all right." The deputy gave vent
to a short, mirthless laugh. "Oh, I rapped him with the butt; had ter
do it. He'd got hold ov a club somwhar, an' wus goin' ter give yer
another. It will be a while, I reckon, 'fore he takes much interest.
What'll I do with this red-headed gink?"

I succeeded in reaching my feet, and stood there a moment, gaining what
view I could through the darkness. The short struggle, desperate as it
had been, was not a noisy one, and I could hear nothing about us to
indicate any alarm. No hurrying footsteps, no cries told of
disturbance in any direction. Kirby rested exactly as he had fallen,
and I stared down at the dim outlines of his distended body, unable to
comprehend how my swift blow could have wrought such damage. I bent
over him wonderingly, half believing he