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The warrior, with a growl of rage, drew his sharp parang, leaping to close

quarters. Barbara Harding saw Byrne whip Theriere's revolver from its holster,

and snap it in the face of the savage; but to her horror the cartridge failed to

explode, and before he could fire again the warrior was upon him.

The girl saw the white man leap to one side to escape the furious cut aimed at

him by his foe, and then she saw him turn with the agility of a panther and

spring to close quarters with the wild man. Byrne's left arm went around the

Malay's neck, and with his heavy right fist he rained blow after blow upon the

brown face.

The savage dropped his useless parang--clawing and biting at the mighty creature

in whose power he found himself; but never once did those terrific, relentless

blows cease to fall upon his unprotected face.

The sole witness to this battle primeval stood spellbound at the sight of the fierce,

brutal ferocity of the white man, and the lion-like strength he exhibited. Slowly

but surely he was beating the face of his antagonist into an unrecognizable pulp--

with his bare hands he had met and was killing an armed warrior. It was

incredible! Not even Theriere or Billy Mallory could have done such a thing. Billy

Mallory! And she was gazing with admiration upon his murderer!

117

The Mucker