He leaped forward suddenly, thrust quick as lightning, and then leaped away.

The Spaniard had parried, but the blade nevertheless cut the cloth of his brilliant coat, making a long gash.

The cut was not in the flesh, only in the cloth, but Alvarez was stung by it and the sting became the more bitter when Long Jim cried out: "Hooray, Paul! That wuz somethin' like! He thought he wuz goin' to murder you, but he ain't!" Alvarez, furious, rushed in and Paul, keen of eye and alert of muscle, fought on the defensive.

Lucky for him now that he remembered all the lessons taught to him by the old soldier of the great French and Indian war, and lucky for him, too, that he had lived such a temperate life! Steel met steel and the ringing sound filled the little glade.

The others were silent, leaning a little forward, lips slightly apart.