ingle with the rasp of his curses. I flung
him off, and my Erentz motors recovered. He staggered away, but in a
great leap came at me again.

I was taller, heavier and far stronger than Coniston. But I found him
crafty, and where I was awkward in handling my lightness, he seemed
more skillfully agile.

I became aware that we were on the twenty foot square grid of the
observatory platform. It had a low metal railing. We surged against
it. I caught a dizzying glimpse of the abyss. Then it receded as we
bounced the other way. And then we fell to the grid. His helmet bashed
against mine, striking as though butting with the side of his head to
puncture my visor panel. His gloved fingers were clutching at my
throat.

As we regained our feet, I flung him off, and bounded like a diver,
head first, into him. He went backward, but skillfully kept his feet
under him, gripped me again and shoved me.

I was tottering at the head of the staircase--falling. But I clutched
at him. We fell some twenty or thirty feet to be next lower spider
landing. The impact must have dazed us both. I recall my vague idea
that we must have fallen down the cliff.... My air shut off--then it
came again. The roaring in my ears was stilled; my head cleared, and I
found that we were on the landing, fighting.

He presently broke away from me, bounded to the summit with me after
him. In the close confines of the suit I was bathed in sweat and
gasping. I had no thought to increase the oxygen control. I could not
find it; or it would not operate.

I realized that I was fighting sluggishly, almost aimlessly. But so
was Coniston!

It seemed dreamlike. A phantasmagoria of blows and staggering steps. A
nightmare with only the horrible vision of this goggled helmet always
before my eyes.

It seemed that we were rolling on the ground, back on the summit. The
unshadowed Earthlight was clear and bright. The abyss was beside me.
Coniston, rolling, was now on top, now under me, trying to shove me
over the brink. It was all like a dream--as though I were asleep,
dreaming that I did not have enough air.

I strove to keep my senses. He was struggling to roll me over the
brink. God, that would not do! But I was so tired. One cannot fight
without oxygen!

I suddenly knew that I had shaken him off and gained my feet. He rose,
swaying. He was as tired, confused, as nearly asphyxiated as I.

The brink of the abyss was behind us. I lunged, desperately shoving,
avo