He was almost half way up when he came face to face with a Mexican soldier who carried in his hand a small lantern.

The soldier, the only one perhaps who had suspected the pyramid as a place of refuge, had come at another angle, and there on a terrace the two had met.
They were not more than three feet apart.

Ned had put his machete back in his belt that he might climb with more ease, but he hit out at once with his clenched right hand.

The blow took the Mexican full between the eyes and toppling over backward he dropped the lantern.

Then he slid on the narrow terrace and with an instinctive cry of terror fell.