Heliobas was the taller and more powerful of the two, but Prince Ivan seemed imbued with the spirit of a hundred devils, and sprang at his opponent's throat with the silent breathless ferocity of a tiger.

At first Heliobas appeared to be simply on the defensive, and his agile, skilful movements were all used to parry and ward off the other's grappling eagerness.

But as I watched the struggle, myself speechless and powerless, I saw his face change.

Instead of its calm and almost indifferent expression, there came a look which was completely foreign to it--a look of savage determination bordering on positive cruelty.

In a moment I saw what was taking place in his mind.