hold, and, bending his enemy's head back with one hand, rained
blow after blow in his face with the other. One terrible stroke on
the jaw, and Jasper's arms were loosed; the two fell apart, the one
stunned, the other breathless. One dazed moment only, and for a
third time the Lewallen came on. Rome had been fighting a man;
now he faced a demon. Jasper's brows stood out like bristles, and
the eyes under them were red and fierce like a mad bull's. Again
Rome's blows fell, but again the Lewallen reached him, and this
time he got his face under the Stetson's chin, -'id the heavy fist fell
upon the back of his head, and upon his neck, as upon wood and
leather. Again Rome had to gasp for breath, and again the two
were fiercely locked-their corded arms as tense as serpents.
Around and around they whirled, straining, tripping, breaking the
silence only with deep, quick breaths and the stamping of feet,
Jasper firm on the rock, and Rome's agility saving him from being
lifted in the air and tossed from the cliff. There was no pause for
rest. It was a struggle to the end, and a quick one; and under stress
of excitement the figure at the pine-tree had risen to his knees-
jumping even to his feet in plain view, when the short, strong arms
of the Lewallen began at last to draw Rome closer still, and to
bend him backward. The Stetson was giving way at last. The
Lewallen's vindictive face grew blacker, and his white teeth
showed between his snarling lips as he fastened one leg behind his
enemy's, and, with chin against his shoulder, bent him slowly,
slowly back. The two breathed in short, painful gasps; their
swollen muscles trembled under the strain as with ague. Back -
back - the Stetson was falling; he seemed almost down, when-the
trick is an old one-whirling with the quickness of light, he fell
heavily on his opponent, and caught him by the throat with both
hands.