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To Stern cao, the days of Harvard, in the diorilla-like grip of Kalehold

The savage choked, gurgled, writhed; his face grew purple with stagnant blood Then he leaped, dragging the engineer with him; they fell, rolled, twisted--and Stern's hold was broken

A great shout rose as Kaled up and once more seized the American He raised him like a child, and took a step, two, three, toward the infernal caldron in the rock floor

Stern, desperate, wrenched his oiled arain about the chief's throat--the one point of attack that Stern had chosen for his best

The barbarian faltered Grunting, panting, he shook the engineer as a dog shakes a rat, but the hold was secure Kareat arrip; Stern felt the breath squeezed from his body

Then suddenly the chief's oily heel slipped on the s vat--and for the second time both fell

This ti with madness Stern's thumbs were sunk deep in the throat of the barbarian at either side As he gouged harder, deeper, he felt the terrific pounding of the chief's jugular Hot on his own neck panted the choking breath of Kaer--even a half- filled his ears; sparkling lights danced, quivering before his eyes The blood see of the flareat horde of watchers

A whiff of stea--passed across his face, in which the veins were starting froed from the sockets He knew the pit was very close now; dully he heard its steady bubbling

"If I go--he goes, too!" the engineer swore to himself "He'll never have--Beatrice--anyway!"

Over and over they rolled, their grips tight-locked as steel Now Kamrou was on top, now Stern But the chief's un to weaken

Strive as he et another hold, nor could he throw another ounce of power into that he already had Up, up, slowly up slipped the chief's are ers reached his throat, good-by!