The Raymer enterprise., 1920-06-17
CHAPTER ix.-contlnued.

T.
Pierre reeled. and once again Hilary
teaped and caught him under the chin.
But this time he was not quick enough
to repeat his former maneuver. Lee
blanc struck at him from behind. The
upward thrust would have penetrated
his heart bad 1t struck where Leblanc
Intended; but. by miracle Of luck. II
passed between Hilary's arm and his
body. only Just grazing rib. The
point Of the blade caught In the lining
Of the coat and. before Leblanc could
withdraw his arm. Hilary pressed his
own left arm against his body. catch
Ing Leblanc's hand there and imprison-
Ing II.
This movement swung him round,
forcing him to release Pierre. .nd the
ensuing bovine rush which the outlaw
made threw them both against the em.
brasure Of the second window, on the
opposite side Of the door, Men were
yelling outside. and a furious hammer
Ing was maintained, but none OF the
fighters was conscious either Of the
shouts or Of the blows. As Hilary and
Leblanc fell against the window shelf
the rotted wood broke inward. The
second lamp tottered and then crashed
down beside them. going out as the
fret had dana and faaxsip0 ths sto MI.
In complete darkness. With swift
movement Hilary managed to draw Le-
blanc's arm further through his. With
the pressure of his combined biceps
and triceps he could hold II there In
definitely. II he had only Leblanc TO
contend with. But he could not use
his right hnnd to force Leblanc's open
and take the knife. which the jobber
was making frantic efforts to use. He
needed his right hand for Pierre; and
Leblanc managed to twist the knife so
that Its edge was against Hllary's side,
and with the sinews OF his fingers he
was scraping It backward and for
ward. ripping open the coat lining and
lnhicting 4 succession of scratches
and little punctures under the heart.
Hilary backed suddenly, jarrlng Le-
biaDc's spine against the edge Of the
window shelf. Leblanc groaned and
made q frantic effort to twist himself
free, hacking at Hllary's shlns and
shouting to Pierre to finish the fob.
PIerre's forward rush had flung him
between the two. Hilary felt him
cropping in the darkness. trying to
gauge the position In which he was
leaning: Pierre was evidently puzzled
by the position of the two, and by the
termination Of Leblanc's shoulder
against HIlary's. Hllury sensed that
Pierre had finally satisfied himself and
had raised his right arm to strike. He
flung away the revolver. which he still
held. reached up and seized the hand
as II was about to descend.
Thus holding the right wrist of each
Of his assailants he plunged forward.
bringing them to the floor. He let go
suddenly and sprang to his feet
Pierre's knife grazed his sole; as Lee
blanc tried to rise Hilary caught him
beneath the chin with the other foot.
Leblanc gronned and his head went
back on the floor.
That left only Pierre In action. Hill
ary withdrew step or two. He heard
the outlaw breathing heavily as he
crouched In the darkness. For the frs,
time he began to be aware of the
knocking at the door. 1t sounded now
as II crowbar were being applied.
The yells Of the lumbermen came to
his ears; but the absurdlty Of his posi-
tion did not dawn on him. nor the fact
that, when he had settled with Pierre
be would have to reckon with the mob
outside. He meant to deal with Pierre
a. he had dealt with the others. But
In the darkness he could guide himself
only BY Pierre's breathing. which
sounded now on one side Of him and
now on the other. Further away Le-
blanc was moaning.
Out Of the darkness Pierre leaped
forward. The knife blow flashed past
Hilary. who got Pierre by the arms.
they began to wrestle as they had
done that day In the woods. Here
Pisrre was Hilary's superior; his
physical strength was greater. though
~ had no force In bis blows; and.
though Hilary had beaten him that day
at the camp. It was BY q strateRem
which could not be repeated success
fully. Gradually the strength Of
sSs~rS's ssns beam to tell. The two