Sperelli, nothing daunted by this onslaught, and wishing to avoid an actual hand-to-hand fight, parried vigorously, and returned with such directness that he might, had he so wished, have run his adversary through the body each time.

Rutolo's leg was bleeding near the groin.
'Halt!' cried Santa Margherita the moment he perceived it.
But in the same instant Sperelli, parrying low quarte and not encountering his adversary's blade, received a thrust full in the breast.

He fell back into Barbarisi's arms and fainted.
'Wound penetrating the thorax through the fourth intercostal space on the right side with superficial wound of the lung,' pronounced the bull-necked surgeon, after his examination in the room to which they had conveyed the wounded man..