He had expected it, hoped for it.

But, before the end, he wanted to kill this man, if he could.

He caught Castine's head in his hands, and, with a last effort, twisted it back with a sudden jerk.
All at once, with the effort, blood spurted from his mouth into the other's face.

He shivered, tottered and fell back, as Castine struck blindly into space.

For a moment Ferrol swayed back and forth, stretched out his hands convulsively and gasped, trying to speak, the blood welling from his lips.