He was poising for the throw in earnest, for there could no longer be any doubt that the stranger was planning a deadly assault.
"Take it, then, since you want it!" snapped out Harry Hazelton.

The fragment of rock left his hand, propelled with force and directed with accurate aim at the negro's face.
But the crafty black dodged just in time, at the same instant throwing up his hands.
Harry gasped as he saw his unknown assailant deftly catch the rock fragment as though it had been a base ball.
"Ha, ha! Ho, ho!" jeered the black, in a hoarse, rumbling voice.
He threw back his hand, gathering impetus for the cast.

Hazelton could do nothing but throw himself on the defensive, planning to duplicate the black man's catch.
Then the stone came---but it did not go high, instead, by a jerk of his wrist, the negro hurled it at Harry's right foot.
That granite-like fragment struck Hazelton's foot with full force.
"You---you scoundrel!" groaned Harry, in an all but admiring gasp.
Like a flash he bent over, snatching up the fragment for his own use.
"Now, I'll slam you into the middle of the Gulf of Mexico!" cried the young engineer, vengefully, as he tried to straighten up.
A groan escaped him.

His injured foot was paining him more than he had expected.
"Ha, ha! Ho, ho!" harshly jeered this mysterious, evil creature.

The black man had halted as Harry prepared to throw, but he showed no sign of hesitation.