Yet he turned.

It was perhaps the instinct inherited from his great ancestor, who was said to have had a sixth sense.

Whatever it may have been, he faced suddenly about, and saw Bill Skelly aiming at him a blow with the clubbed rifle, which would at once crush his skull and send his body into the deep stream.
The same inherited instinct made him leap within the swing of the rifle and clutch at the mountaineer's throat.

The heavy butt swished through the air, and the very force of the blow jerked the weapon from Skelly's hands.

The next instant he was struggling for his life.