As Standish struck ground, the man was upon him, knife again aloft, poised above the helpless Milo's throat.
And it was then that Gavin Brice's flying feet brought him to the scene.
As he ran he had heard a door open.

And he knew his warning shout had reached the ears of some one in the house,--perhaps of Claire.

But he had no time nor thought for anything, just then, except the stark need of reaching Milo Standish before the knife could strike.
He launched himself, after the fashion of a football tackle, straight for the descending arm.

And, for a few seconds all three men rolled and wallowed and fought in a jumble of flying arms and legs and heads.
Brice had been lucky enough or dextrous enough to catch the knife-wielder's wrist and to wrench it far to one side, as it whizzed downward.

With his other hand he had groped for the slayer's throat.
Then, he found himself attacked with a maniac fury by the man whose murderous purpose he had thwarted.