The savage pounding upon his chest was telling.

He still retained his grasp upon Skelly's throat, where his fingers were sunk into the flesh, but it was only the grimmest kind of resolution that enabled him to hold on.
Harry saw the fierce light in Skelly's eye turn to joy.

The man foresaw his triumph, and he began to curse low, but fast and with savage unction.

Harry felt himself weakening, and he made another mighty effort to retain his hold, but the fingers still slipped, and, as Skelly struck him harder than ever in the chest, they flew loose entirely.
He knew that if Skelly had room for the full play of his arm that he would be knocked senseless at the next blow, and to ward it off he seized the man by his huge chest, tripping at the same time with all his might.

The two fell, rolled over in their struggling, and then Harry felt himself dropping from a height.