Valmond caught the giant's wrist with both hands, and with a mighty effort wrenched himself aside.

His heart seemed to strain and burst, and just as he felt the end was come, he heard something crash on the murderer's skull, and the great creature fell with a gurgling sound, and lay like a parcel of loose bones across his knees.

Valmond raised himself, a strange, dull wonder on him, for as the weapon smote this lifeless creature, he had seen another hurl by and strike the opposite wall.

A moment afterwards the dead man was pulled away by Parpon.

Trying to rise he felt blood trickling down his neck, and he turned sick and blind.