narmed. But show _that_
to your wife when you go back,' and I struck him with my open hand."

(I remembered the mark on the corpse's cheek, and looked at Guy eagerly.
I could not see his face, which was hidden by the curtain, but all his
lower limbs were shaking and quivering.)

"I thought how it would be," Bruce went on; "he drew his hand out with
the pistol in it, but he only flung it over the bank--one barrel went
off in the fall--then we grappled. After wrestling for a minute or two
on the narrow path, we lost our footing and rolled down the rocks;
neither quitted his hold, but I fell uppermost and kept him down. He
struggled desperately at first; but when he found that I was much the
stronger, he lay quite still, looking up into my face. I said, 'It's my
turn at last. Do you think I'll let you off?'

"He did not answer at first. I believe he would not till he had quite
recovered his breath; then he said, coolly, 'No, I don't. Finish it
quickly, if you can, that's all.' I would have delayed a little, to
enjoy my triumph, but I thought the pistol-shot might bring some one; so
I tightened my gripe on his throat, and looked round for a weapon. I
found none at first, and my purpose actually began to soften when I saw
him so helpless; but, as I relaxed my fingers, I heard him whisper to
himself, 'Poor Bella! we have been very happy: I wish we had more
time--' I got mad again directly. 'D--n you!' I cried out, 'I'll kill
you now, and marry her some day.' His old insolent smile came on his
lip. 'No you won't,' he said; 'you don't know how she hates you, and how
we have laughed--' He had no time to say more, for I found my weapon
then--a stone triangular and sharp-pointed like a dagger--and I struck
him over the temple with all my force. He gave one convulsive spring
that threw me clear of him, and never stirred again.

"I did not repent when it was done; I have never repented since; I do
not now. I only thought how best to escape the consequences. I took his
watch and purse, that brigands might be suspected, and threw them into
the river a mile off. I robbed him of one thing more--this!" All his
haggard face was transfigured with a ghastly triumph as he opened a
small leathern case that hung round his neck, and held up before us two
locks of hair.

There they were--the love-gift and the death-spoil--the memorials of
defeat and of victory, of foiled affection and of gratified hate--the
one, beguiled from Isabel by Bruc