away, laughing softly. The Canuck floundered up and rushed like a
furious bull. His downfall was only the swifter. The impact of the two
bodies sounded like hands clapped together, and then Goliath rose into
the air, struggling mightily, and pitched with a thud to the mat.

He writhed there, for the wind was knocked from his body by the fall.
At length he struggled to a sitting posture and glared up at the
conqueror. The boy reached out a hand to his fallen foe.

"You would have thrown me that way the first time," he said, "but you
let me change grips on you. In another week you will be too much for
me, _bon ami_."

The other accepted the hand after an instant of hesitation and was
dragged to his feet. He stood looking down into the boy's face with a
singular grin. But there was no triumph in the eye of Pierre--only a
good-natured interest.

"In another week," answered the giant, "there would not be a sound
bone in my body."




CHAPTER 2


"You have seen him," murmured the tall priest. "Now let us go back and
wait for him. I will leave word."