Miki, numbed by the cold, scarcely felt the BABICHE noose as it settled softly about his neck.

He did not see Durant brace himself, with his feet against the running-log of the cage.
Then, suddenly, Durant lurched himself backward, and it seemed to Miki as though a giant trap of steel had closed about his neck.

Instantly his wind was cut off.

He could make no sound as he struggled frantically to free himself.

Hand over hand Durant dragged him to the bars, and there, with his feet still braced, he choked with his whole weight until--when at last he let up on the WAHGUN--Miki collapsed as if dead.