Roger came upon the little lake in the woods just as the dawn was
coating its waters with a thick purple. He saw a canoe pulled upon the
beach and paddled out to the island. A circle of stately royal palms,
their tops gorgeously golden in the sun's first rays, their smooth
trunks still black, with the darkness of night, ringed the island
round. Within the circle of palms was a luxurious tangle of tropical
plants, of flowers, of lazily drooping vines. Payne followed a winding
path through the odorous jungle and came to the tiny bungalow hidden in
the heart of it all.
"Garman!" he called hoarsely; and by the manner in which his voice
echoed in the stillness he knew no living being was about the place.
He entered softly, almost fearing to find the signs he sought. One of
Garman's large cigars, lighted and thrown away after a few puffs, lay
on the verandah. The place inside was a wreck. Broken furniture,
shattered glass, torn curtains and bedding, lay about in aimless
disorder, as if some wild animal had run amuck there tearing and
trampling to pieces all it touched. Windows and frames had been
smashed with terrific blows. There were dents in the floor where it
had been beaten furiously with an iron bedpost.
Roger came out and tried to think. What had happened? Had Garman
deliriously celebrated his triumph in an orgy of destruction? There
was no sign of a struggle. He left the island hurriedly.
The morning sun was high in the heavens when Roger emerged from the
woods onto the prairie on his way back to Garman's house. He followed
no path. He was running head down, seeing and hearing nothing. He
smashed through a clump of palmetto scrubs into an opening of barren
white sand, and from another thicket came Garman, a rifle in his hands,
plunging toward him, blind and deaf, maddened and purple-faced with
rage.
They were almost face to face when they saw one another.
There was no time to think of weapons, no time to think at all. They
sprang at one another with a cry that was old when man invented the
cleft-stick stone ax. There is a note of joy in that cry as well as
that of rage. Roger leaped primitively to grapple and break his enemy
with bare hands. Garman tossed his rifle away and came on intent upon
the same purpose.
They clinched; and the moment Roger felt those vast soft hands
tightening upon him the shock brought back to him a sort of reason.
Garman was the stronger. His right hand caught Roger's clenched fist
within an inch of his chin, and his gorilla grip held the fist
helpless. His huge hand encased Roger's fist as one might hold a
baseball; and slowly, surely, gloatingly he bent the arm.
Garman was the stronger. This was the thought which now monopolized
Roger's mind. By natural law Garman would be the victor in this
primitive struggle; and considering the man and the circumstances,
Roger had no illusions as to what this would mean to him. So far as
his own entity was concerned the mental picture of himself as Garman's
victim did not disturb him greatly; he had lost all that man may hope
for in life; no fear came into his heart as he realized how much Garman
was his physical superior.
An impulse to throw himself madly upon his opponent regardless of
consequences followed the picture; but with a sudden determination he
controlled it. A few wild, reckless spasms and he knew the fight would
be over. Once those terrible hands, with their fat, suctionlike palms,
found a vital hold they would not let go; and Garman was an experienced
fighter, and wild fighting would soon present him the opportunity which
he would see and seize.
Roger placed himself wholly upon the defensive, and while he skillfully
resisted Garman's efforts to end the struggle at once, he fought with
himself a struggle for calm reason.
He could not win. That was the basis from which he began to reason.
Garman was the stronger man, so much stronger that against him Roger's
powerful young body thrust as against the trunk of an immovable tree.
For a moment the pair had held motionless, Garman's bulk and might held
for the instant by Roger's impetuous rush, but now the Plunderer's
strength was telling and he was slowly thrusting his victim back.
As he retreated before the irresistible strength that was dominating
him, Roger was winning a battle with himself. All the youth and pride
and strength of him were rebelling at even momentary subjection, but
his will was swiftly gaining the ascendancy within him. The body cried
for a swift and terrible struggle; the mind demanded patience. For
though he could not win he would if he could, before he succumbed, hurt
Garman so terribly that victory would be too dearly purchased to be
enjoyed.
The first clash was over; Garman, contented at having proved himself
the stronger, had ceased to thrust against Roger, and in a moment the
pair came to a standstill. Roger's left fist was still held helpless
in Garman's grip while with his right he fended away the Plunderer's
hand at his throat. Garman was not striking; his great left hand like
a wide-open claw came forward seeking a throttling grip, while the wild
light in his eyes and the ghastly smile on his face showed how sure he
was of an easy triumph.
"I've got you, Payne!" he roared. "Let that sink into your soul. I've
got you. Out here nobody will come or hear you when you begin to
shriek for mercy. Oh, you're going to shriek, all right; don't have
any doubt about that. I know how to do it; I'm going to have some fun
out of this mess after all. Yes, enough fun to pay for all the damage
you've done me. I'm going to play with you, sonny; I'm going to show
you tricks you never heard of. I'm going to make you last a long time
after you begin to shriek and beg me to kill you, and every minute of
it will be to me like a dream come true. Buck me, will you? Then come
to me!"
The last words were accompanied by a sudden jerk. Garman's arms licked
out viciously and Roger found himself clasped to his enemy's breast. A
horror possessed him such as he had never imagined, for Garman's whole
body seemed like his hands, soft, clinging, destructive; and Roger put
all his strength in the effort and broke free.
He must not let Garman get him like that again, he thought as he fought
back. It had cost him too much energy to break the hold. Garman had
been a trifle too assured, not realizing fully his opponent's strength;
and the next time he would make sure that there was no escape from his
gorilla-like arms.
"Come to me, Payne," he repeated softly, reaching for another grip.
"I've got you; feed your soul on those words. So young and full of
life; but I've got you out here in the swamp where nobody can see or
hear. Why, sonny, I doubt if they'll ever find you, or what's left,
after I get through."
Roger, calm again after his sudden effort, watched for an opening and
shot his left like a bullet against the huge, gross mouth. Almost in
the same second he side-stepped and brought his right in an arc to the
mark above Garman's belt and leaped back out of danger. Garman did not
stir, and though the blow on the mouth cut it did not efface the sneer
on his lips.
"Or what's left after I get through," he repeated. "Let your mind take
hold of that, sonny. It won't be pretty to look at, but never mind;
you won't be able to see it. All alone, out here in the swamp and the
buzzards will be waiting."
He lunged and Roger slipped by his guard, smashed his fist into the
mouth again and pivoted to safety.
"The buzzards will be waiting, Payne," continued Garman in his
monotone. "Big hungry one, up there in the cypress. But the Mexican
Buzzards, the little brown fellows, will come down from the trees
first--fierce little Mexican buzzards--not afraid to tackle a thing
still living a little and groaning!"
Roger scarcely heard the last words, for Garman was on him like a fury,
striking, clawing, cursing.
"Hit me, will you! Try your boxer's tricks on me, eh?" he roared.
"I'll stamp your head into the ground."
The rush carried them back to the fringe of palmetto scrub, and at the
touch of sharp leaves on his back Roger leaped to one side and away
from the scrub. So swiftly did he move that Garman was unable to turn
with him, and Roger flung his arms about the raging enemy's middle and
lifted him in the air. Then Garman laughed softly, for his paws
dropped upon Roger's wrists, as he threw himself face downward upon the
ground. Roger was on top but for a moment he was helpless, his wrists
imprisoned beneath Garman's body.
"The Mexican buzzards, sonny; the little fierce fellows. I've got you;
I've got you sure this time."
Roger relaxed in apparent defeat; then bending his supple body like a
bow he managed to drive a knee with all his power into the small of
Garman's back. The upper part of the huge, gross body came up with a
jerk; a cry of mingled pain and rage escaped Garman; his grip relaxed
and Roger tore himself free.
The terrific wrench of the back would have prostrated any normal man,
but Garman, rolling swiftly, came to his feet and rushed again with new
fury.
The fight raged across the clearing and back again, Garman striving to
drive his agile opponent into the brush and entangle him, Roger
carefully avoiding this danger which would have enabled Garman to come
to grips. Time after time the latter rushed and each time Roger eluded
his grasp. When a safe opportunity offered Roger struck and leaped to
safety, refusing to permit Garman's taunts to rouse him to reckless
fury.
"Run, why don't you, sonny? Turn and beat it. You're fast; you might
get away."
Roger did not reply to these efforts to provoke him; he circled just
out of reach, watching with icy eyes for the big man's next move. And
when it came he was ready to meet it. His mind was clear and cool; one
chance he had and one only,--that Garman would tire himself. As the
fight went on and it became obvious that Garman, despite his efforts,
was as fresh as ever, Roger abandoned this hope; and now he became more
calm, more icy-eyed than ever.
It was a fight to death and his only purpose now to die hard and
fighting to the last breath. A grim satisfaction, a pride, almost a
joy, in the perfect condition of body, of his strength and agility,
began to grow in him. The joy of life, the purposes and hopes of a
man's existence; the hope of love, all that had been put away; and he
had become the stark fighting man, single of idea, barren of hope, but
efficient. The intoxication of battle began to creep upon him. From
the toes of his light strong feet to the top of his head his body
thrilled with the strong man's joy in his own strength; and only his
iron will, which had consecrated his strength to the uttermost possible
harming of Garman, prevented him from shouting exultantly. Instead he
stepped in when the opportunity presented itself and swung his right
with all his power to Garman's long, heavy jaw. The blow would have
felled any other man like a pole-axed ox, but Garman's head merely
rolled back on its thick neck and that was all.
A new gleam of craftiness in Garman's eyes warned Roger to
extraordinary alertness, and when the other, pretending to seek a
moment's rest, suddenly lashed out a kick for the groin, the young man
threw himself away, escaping with a blow on the hip. Anger flamed in
him anew, the anger of the fair fighter at a treacherous trick, and at
the sight of the change in him Garman permitted himself a little smile,
and Roger again forced himself to grow calm. He retreated, striking,
ducking, side-stepping, he circled the clearing. Once his foot slipped
on the barrel of Garman's rifle, and he kicked it to one side. As he
did so Garman kicked again, at the knee this time; but now Roger was
ready, he caught his foot behind the other's heel, heaved up and threw
the big man heavily.
"God--you!" bellowed Garman as he sprang up, and the smile was gone
from his face.
The fighting now became bestial, brutal, animal-like in its unreasoning
fury. Driven wild with humiliation over the heavy throw, Garman
lowered his head and charged like a mad bull, butting, striking,
kicking. His blows were wild, but their power was irresistible;
Roger's guard was beaten down, he tried in vain to escape; and one of
the blows went home on his forehead and knocked him into the palmetto
scrub. With both feet he kicked viciously at the huge head that was
rushing at him; Garman's rush stopped sharply; and Roger was on his
feet and out in the open ere his opponent had recovered.
Garman was insane with rage; Roger was icy calm. They had been
fighting so long now and so furiously that he knew the end could not be
long delayed. He realized how narrowly he had escaped; had his kick
missed Garman would have been on top of him. He must not go down again.
His heart was thumping so his ribs shook, and his breath was coming in
gulps between parted lips. Garman's lips were smashed beyond all
resemblance to a mouth, and the heaving of his great chest told how the
pace was telling. His first kick had done the work, however. A
numbness was spreading over Roger's right leg. In the heat of combat
he had not realized how severe was the kick that had been dealt him,
but now the fact came home.
He was slowing up. Well, he would do all the damage he could before
the stiffening limb permitted Garman to catch him in that horrible
gorilla grip. And then Garman spoke:
"You got the girl you ---- young pup, but I've got you."
New strength coursed through Roger's heart. His lightninglike feint
drew Garman's guard low; he swung his right in an over-hand blow full
upon his opponent's hawk-like nose. Garman's mouth opened wide as he
struggled for breath, and Roger knew the damage he had done. Again he
feinted, again he swung--and a bone in his right hand snapped as the
fist went home on the top of his enemy's suddenly lowered head.
Garman laughed through the welter of his broken face, and rushed, and
Roger's straight left stopped him. Again the left flashed into the
battered face, and again. Roger was fighting with the desperation of
his last remnants of strength. One hand was useless, his leg was
stiffening rapidly, but his left worked havoc with the other's features.
Garman drew back. His eyes gleamed with comprehension and triumph.
Maddened and reckless Roger rushed and struck and got away; and then
suddenly, in one uncontrollable spasm of rage Garman went wild. His
tone became an animal roar of rage, his fighting that of a beast. And
as Roger side-stepped and dodged he knew that the end had come. He
floundered and stumbled; his right leg was fast becoming useless.
Garman had only to keep on rushing.
Roger slipped on something hard and realized that it was the rifle. As
he leaped up and away he saw Garman's eye catch a glint of the weapon.
With a terrific effort Roger lunged forward. Too late. Garman had
stooped to dig the weapon from the trodden sand. Roger struck with the
desperation of life or death behind his blow. His fist landed full on
the neck below the ear; Garman grunted bestially and pitched forward on
his face. The sight seemed to flood Roger's body with unbounded
strength, the strength of hope reborn after despair has held sway. He
jerked the rifle from his opponent's hands. Garman was on his hands
and knees, sneering grotesquely at Roger's face above the leveled
barrel. And suddenly Roger swung the rifle round and threw it out of
reach in the palmetto scrub.
"Get up!" he panted hoarsely. "I've got you now."
Garman rose on tottering legs and came on. He could not fight any
longer, but he could blaspheme, and the foulest curses rolled from his
lips. Finally he uttered Annette's name. Roger set himself and drove
his fist to the point of the heavy, fat jaw. And as a marionette falls
when its suspending strings are cut, so Garman collapsed and lay a
huge, shapeless heap in the reddened sand.