Had Leo's eye been less quick, or his limbs less active, that spear had
laid him low for ever. He had barely time to spring aside, when the
weapon passed between his side and his left arm, grazing the latter
slightly, and drawing blood which trickled to the ends of his fingers.

There could be no further doubt now about the nature of the fight.
Catching up a spear from the bundle at his feet he was just in time to
receive the Eskimo, who sprang in on him with the intention of coming at
once to close quarters. His rush was very furious; probably with a view
to make it decisive. But the agile Leo was equal to the occasion.
Bending suddenly so low as to be quite under his opponent's desperate
thrust, he struck out his right leg firmly. Koyatuk tripped over it,
and ploughed the land for some yards with his hands, head, and knees.

Considerably staggered in mind and body by the fall, he sprang up with a
roar, and turned to renew the attack. Leo was ready. The Eskimo, by
that time mad with pain, humiliation, and rage, exercised no caution in
his assault. He rushed at his rival like a mad bull. Our Englishman
saw his opportunity. Dropping his own spear he guarded the thrust of
his adversary's with his right arm, while, with his left fist, he
planted a solid blow on Koyatuk's forehead. The right fist followed the
left like the lightning flash, and alighted on Koyatuk's nose, which,
flat by nature, was rendered flatter still by art. Indeed it would be
the weakest flattery to assert that he had any nose at all after
receiving that blow. It was reduced to the shape of a small pancake,
from the two holes in which there instantly spouted a stream of blood so
copious that it drenched alike its owner and his rival.

After giving him this double salute, Leo stepped quickly aside to let
him tumble forward, heels over head, which he did with the only
half-checked impetuosity of his onset, and lay prone upon the ground.

"There, Anders," said the victor, turning round as he pointed to his
prostrate foe, "surely Grabantak's son has got enough of blood now to
wipe out all the insults he ever received, or is likely to receive, from
me."

Grabantak appeared to agree to this view of the case. That he saw and
relished the jest was obvious, for he burst into an uproarious fit of
laughter, in which his amiable warriors joined him, and, advancing to
Leo, gave him a hearty slap of approval on the shoulder. At the same
time he cast