He defended himself easily, feeling his assailant's strength already waning.

Time after time the man called him by name and cursed him, now in low tones, as they swayed.

Then the Saint whose allotted victim this man had been, having reloaded his pistol, ran up, held it close to his head, fired, and ran back to the line.
He felt the man's grasp of his shoulders relax, and his body grow suddenly limp, as if boneless.

He let it down to the ground, looking at last full upon the face.

At first glance it told him nothing.