unt, Hanlon
swung from the heels. His uppercut caught the big fellow flush on the
jaw, and staggered him.

But Gorton could take it, and charged again, roaring curses. By sheer
weight he bore Hanlon back across the floor, and got in a couple of
heavy blows. Hanlon's right cheek was badly bruised, and that eye almost
closed. But he was fighting methodically, almost viciously. He was in
and out, slashing and ripping Gorton's face to shreds.

The other guards had been yelling their delight at the fight, and their
hatred of the brash newcomer who was destroying their easy set-up. It
was plain they were all on Gorton's side, and hoped to see Hanlon get
thoroughly whipped.

"Bat his ears off, Gort!"

"Pound some sense inta him!"

"Show him who's top man aroun' here!"

One of them was not content with yelling. As Hanlon stepped to one side
to avoid another of Gorton's rushes, this guard stuck out his leg and
tripped Hanlon, who fell backward. Instantly Gorton was on him, and a
great heavy-shod foot shot out in a kick that would have broken Hanlon's
every rib. But the SS man was watching for just such tricks. His feet
snaked out and hoisted Gorton so high and so far that when he landed he
crashed like a great falling tree. Hanlon jumped to his feet and swung
to confront his foe. But Gorton's head was bleeding badly, his eyes were
closed, his face contorted. He was out like a burnt match.

Instantly Hanlon sank to his knees by the fallen man, gently raising the
head and yelling for cold water and a towel. When the cook came running
with them, Hanlon worked as swiftly to revive the guard as he would have
done for his friend.

The other guards were so surprised at this act of mercy they sat like
dull clods. But a couple of the engineers rose and came swiftly to help
Hanlon. One of the checkers ran to Philander's office for the first aid
kit.

The men were working desperately to stanch the flow of blood when
Superintendent Philander came running in with the clerk and the kit.
Taking in the situation at a glance, he demanded an explanation.

"Th' punk jumped Gort an' tried t' kill 'im!" one of the guards yelled,
but was shouted down by the engineers, the checkers and the cook before
the other slow-witted guards came to their senses enough to corroborate
their fellow's mendacious claim.

The senior engineer explained fully and concisely what had actually
happened. "Yet after all that, the kid was the first to help him,