rushed upon the big chief with the yellow hair. Had the blow which
Jack aimed at his head taken effect, the huge savage would have
needed no second stroke; but he was agile as a cat, and avoided it
by springing to one side, while, at the same time, he swung his
ponderous club at the head of his foe. It was now Jack's turn to
leap aside, and well was it for him that the first outburst of his
blind fury was over, else he had become an easy prey to his
gigantic antagonist; but Jack was cool now. He darted his blows
rapidly and well, and the superiority of his light weapon was
strikingly proved in this combat, for while he could easily evade
the blows of the chief's heavy club, the chief could not so easily
evade those of his light one. Nevertheless, so quick was he, and
so frightfully did he fling about the mighty weapon, that, although
Jack struck him almost every blow, the strokes had to be delivered
so quickly that they wanted force to be very effectual

It was lucky for Jack that the other savages considered the success
of their chief in this encounter to be so certain that they
refrained from interfering. Had they doubted it, they would have
probably ended the matter at once by felling him. But they
contented themselves with awaiting the issue.

The force which the chief expended in wielding his club now began
to be apparent. His movements became slower, his breath hissed
through his clenched teeth, and the surprised savages drew nearer
in order to render assistance. Jack observed this movement. He
felt that his fate was sealed, and resolved to cast his life upon
the next blow. The chiefs club was again about to descend on his
head. He might have evaded it easily, but instead of doing so, he
suddenly shortened his grasp of his own club, rushed in under the