The Connecticut labor press., 1920-09-18
CHAPTER Ix.-continued.

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 Pierre reeled, and once again Hilary leaped and caught him under the chin. But this time he was not quick enough to repeat his former maneuver. Le- blanc struck at him from behind. The upward thrust would have penetrated his heart had 1t struck where Leblanc intended; but, by miracle of luck, it passed between Hilary's arm and his body, only just grazing a 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 1t.
 This movement swung him round forcing him to release Pierre, and the ensuing bovine rush which the outlaw made threw them both against the en- 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 routed wood broke inward. The second lamp tottered and then crashed down beside them, going out as the first had done, and leaving the stable in complete darkness. With a swift movement Hillary managed to draw Le- blanc's arm further through his. With the pressure of his combined biceps and triceps he could hold it there in- definitely, if he had only Leblanc to contend with. But he could not use his right hand 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 Hilary's side, and with the sinews of his fingers he was scraping it backward and for ward, ripping open the coat lining and inf1icting a succession of scratches and little punctures under the heart.
 Hilary backed suddenly, jarring Le- blanc's spine against the edge of the window shelf. Leblanc groaned and made frantic effort to twist himself free, hacking at Hilary's shins and shouting to Pierre to finish the job. Pierre's forward rush had flung him between the two. Hilary felt him groping 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. Hilary 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 1t 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 Le- blanc tried to rise Hilary caught him beneath the, chin with the other foot. Leblanc groaned and his head went back on the floor.
 That left only Pierre in action. Hill ary withdrew a step or two. He heard the outlaw breathing heavily as he crouched in the darkness For the first time he began to be aware of the knocking at the door. It sounded now as if a crowbar were being applied. The yells of the lumbermen came to his ears; but the absurdity of his posi- tion did not dawn on him, nor the fact that, when he had settled with Pierre he would have to reckon with the mob outside. He meant to deal with Pierre as 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 Ieaped 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 Pierre was Hilary's superior; his physical strength was greater, though he had no force in his blows; and, though Hilary had beaten him that day at the camp, 1t was by a strategem which could not be repeated success fully. Gradually the strength of Pierre's arms began to tell. The two .panted, straining together, but Pierre winning. The knife arm was surely slipping out of Hilary's clutch. It reached upward. But at the moment when it was evading him Hilary drop ped Pierre's left hand and struck the outlaw between the eyes. As he did so he heard the breathing on the other side of him.
 Pierre staggered, and in arflash Hil- Rry had both his hands upon Pierre's right wrist, kpeading the veins and sinews till the fist opened. ," The knife shattered upon the floor. Hilary stopped and seized it.. ',' ' ' i
 Thsf was tue precise instsnt when