Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-18

race appeared a dev1liSh mask cast In
iron: the humping of our hearts sounded
for an instant did the contracting pull of
his legs halt, never for an instant did his
muscles relax. while l ceased to see any
thing but his two burning eyeballs. A
legs drew through mine, little by little
his back arched. his knees hitched up
ward.
At another time I might have held
him. indeed, I have persuaded myself to
the belief that I could have done so. But
now l was far from proper condition for
any struggle let alone one with such a
man; I had been strapped ten hours in
chair. bones were sore. muscles tired.
had had no water all day-what SO much
ones reserve-and had no food. How. in
deed. for SO long I was able to hold him
on equal terms. unless by sheer nerve, or
by a kind Of fighting madness, has al
ways been wonder to me. In his squat
thick shape there was concealed the i'm
mense power of a gorilla. Brain he had
little: there was no cunning. no craft, no
guile in his assault, no sudden surprise
to be met in his attack His was a
steady. blind. enormous effort to crush.
And at last he got one knee upon my
thigh. He gave a jerk and his right hand
came free from under my back. A thrill
OF fear shot through me. locked his
arm In mine; desperately twisting. haul
Ing. swaying. he sought to tear it out Of
my grip. snarl was on his lips. a
growl on his tongue; the little brass ring
trembled In his ear. Now by some sud-
den move should have whirled him over.
but weakness was stealing through my
body. He wrenched his arm free, next
instant his fingers clutched my throat
caught his wrist. pulling at 1t. 1t did not
yield. The breath fought in my lungs,
the veins in my temples seemed to burst.
Before me Describes wolfish features.
and past his shoulder Espers knotted
face. the face Of the one watcher who
had crept near. and still past him the
faint. yellow disk Of the moon, all began
to sway and swing dizzily. Roaring was
IN my ears. fires were In my brain.
When became conscious, 1t was Of a
was still in my ears. blood yet pounded
at my temples. but was breathing deep,
hfe-giving breaths. For q while I did not
move. lying with closed eyes. The mans
hand was still on my throat, now. how
eyelids 1t was no longer to see DESCRIBES
fierce face. only the tangled mat OF his
hair. for his head had fallen on my
breast: In the crotch OF loin his knee re-
manned. his back was still arched. Down
upon us looked the moon and Esper's
twisted features. My glance fell upon
the handle Of the knife, which was buried
In the mans back He was dead. At the
last instant. Esper. that strange enigma
VI q HuHnaH DeliS, n0Q pluCk00 up ana
planted the villains own knife in Des-
carte's body With an effort that seemed
to exhaust me pushed the man of. then
rolled over and struggled to my knees,
then to my feet. Esper caught me with a
supporting hand, assisted me to the side
Of boat, where l leaned for a time seek
ing to overcome the sickness that was on
me. the sickness Of exhaustion and hor-
ror and almost Of the kiss Of death My
throat seemed to have been torn out;
could only rub 1t feebly. My brain re-
fused to work. / looked stupidity at the
huddled lump Of the dead man lying on
the sands.
Presently Esper ran down to a pool and
returned bearing his hat full and drip
ping. He dashed water into my face, and
under Its stimulation my thoughts clear
ed. the paralysis left my body and horror
departed from my mind. SO, stretching
my arms and stamping my feet, regained
a little energy. while Esper put on his
wet hat, from which drops fell about the
RIM and looked around him at the night.
For moment neither of us spoke;
glanced at the faint moor and at the
shadowy boats. standing close and silent
In the weird. yellow. unearthly light.
then, finally, down once more at the
dark object on the sand at our feet
Esper blew on his finger nails smiling
his queer. ficker'ng smile, and gazed at
me sidew1se.
But. mon Dieu." he said. that was
not . joke. that little can-can Of yours