e-driving punch to the
other's heart; then, ducking his head to avoid further punishment, he
grappled with the murderer. Roaring inarticulately in their Berserker
rage, the pair bore a closer resemblance to a bear and a gorilla than men.

Once in that terrible grip, however, Gully, big and powerful man though
he was, had not the slightest chance with a wrestler of Slavin's ability.
Shifting rapidly from one cruel hold to another the huge Irishman
presently whirled his antagonist up over his hip and sent him crashing to
the ground, face downwards. Then, kneeling upon the neck of his
struggling and blaspheming victim, he held him down until handcuffs
finally imprisoned the enormous wrists, and leg-irons the ankles.

The grim, long-protracted duel was over at last. But at lamentable cost.
Two men killed outright, and five badly wounded had been the deadly toll
exacted by Gully in his last, desperate stand.

The rays of the early morning shone upon a strange and solemn scene.
Gully, guarded by two constables, was seated upon the stone foundation
that marked the site of his wrecked dwelling. Head in hands, sunk in a
sort of stupor, his attitude portrayed that of a man from whom all
earthly hope had fled. Some distance away lay the wounded men, being
roughly, but sympathetically attended to by their comrades. All were
awaiting now the arrival of the coroner, and also the means of
transportation which the inspector had ordered MacDavid to requisition
for them.

Presently came those who reverently bore the dead upon
hastily-constructed stretchers. Silently Inspector Kilbride indicated a
spot near the fringe of brush; and there, side by side, they laid them
down, covering the bodies with a blanket dragged from the debris of the
shattered dwelling.

Bare-headed, the rest of the party gathered around their officer. Long
and sadly Kilbride gazed down upon the still forms outlined under their
covering. Twice he essayed to speak, but each time his voice failed him.

"Men!" he said at last huskily, as if to himself. "Men! is this what I
have brought you into? . . . Is this--"

He choked, and was silent awhile; then; "Oh!" cried he suddenly, "God
knows! . . . under the circumstances I used the best judgment I--"

But Slavin broke in and laid a tremulous hand on his superior's shoulder.
"No! no! Sorr! . . . hush! for th' love av Christ! . . . Ye must not--"
the soft Hibernian brogue sank to a gentle hush--"niver fea