torn one of Lupus's ears in half, and
the terrible grip on his leg was relaxed. The Wolfhound sprang
completely over the wolf-dingo, and took a slashing bite at the
creature's haunches as he descended. Then they rose one at the
other, like bears standing erect, and meeting jaw to jaw in
mid-air, with a flashing and clashing of fangs which sent a thrill
of excitement along the line of watchful dingoes, who realized now
that they were looking on at the greatest spectacle of their lives.
Lupus missed his grip that time, but so did Finn, being unable to
withstand the violent sidelong wrench which snatched the enemy's
neck from his jaws. And, as they came to earth again, Lupus secured
firm hold upon Finn's leg in the same grip that he had obtained
before. The grip was so vice-like and punishing as to flash panic
into Finn's very soul, such as an animal knows when trapped by a
man's device in unyielding steel. It was only by a violent twist of
his neck that he could bring his jaws into action upon Lupus at
all. But panic drove, and the long, immensely powerful neck was
curved sufficiently. His jaws took the wolf-dingo at the back of
the head, and one of his lower canines actually penetrated Lupus's
lower jaw, causing him the most excruciating pain, so that he
emitted a sound more like a hoarse scream than a growl, and
snatched his head back swiftly from so terrible a punishment. That
was the last time in this fight that Finn's legs were in serious
danger. He had learned his lesson, and from that point onward, no
matter what punishment his shoulders might receive, his hanging
jaws, from which the blood dripped now, effectually guarded his
legs.

From this point, too, Lupus seemed to have centred all his desires
upon the Wolfhound's throat; an underhold was what he sought, and
in the pursuit of that he seemed prepared for, and capable of
standing, any amount of punishment. The line of watching dingoes
was still and silent as a line of statuary; it seemed they hardly
drew breath, so intent was their preoccupation. Warrigal, too,
stuck closely to her position, but she was not silent; a low,
continuous snarl issued from her parted jaws, and the updrawn line
of her lips showed white and glistening in the moonlight. She had
been ordered to the rear by her mate, but the waiting dingoes on
the trail below realized that if Finn were to be laid low, there
would still be fighting to be done on that ledge of rock, and
fighting of a dea