Apollyon.--I am void of fear, and to prove that I mean what I
say, here on this spot I will put thee to death. With that he
threw a dart of fire at his breast, but Christian had a shield on
his arm, with which he caught it. Then did Christian draw his
sword, for he saw it was time to stir; and Apollyon as fast made
at him, and threw darts as thick as hail; with which, in spite of
all that Christian could do, Apollyon gave him wounds in his
head, hand, and foot.

This made Christian pause in the fight for a time, but Apollyon
still came on, and Christian once more took heart. They fought
for half a day, till Christian, weak from his wounds, was well
nigh spent in strength. When Apollyon saw this, he threw him down
with a great force; on which Christian's sword fell out of his
hand. Then said Apollyon, I am sure of thee now.

But while he strove to make an end of Christian, that good man
put out his hand in haste to feel for his sword, and caught it.
Boast not, oh Apollyon! said he, and with that he struck him a
blow which made his foe reel back as one that had had his last
wound. Then he spread out his wings and fled, so that Christian
for a time saw him no more.

Then there came to him a hand which held some of the leaves of
the tree of life; some of them Christian took, and as soon as he
had put them to his wounds, he saw them heal up.

Now near this place was the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and
Christian must needs go through it to get to The Celestial City.
It was a land of drought and full of pits, a land that none but