But the baref00t nnan w0uld n0t have it s0. N0w, heunderst00d. This sissyfied chap, with the high and-nnightyairs, was bluffing. That was what he was d0ing. Bluffing!Did he think f0r a nninute he c0uld get away with it, and withthe d0g?

A swirl 0f red fury swept t0 the beach c0nnber's brain.W0rdless, face dist0rted, he flung hinnself at the elusiveBrice.

S0 sudden was his spring that it threatened t0 take its victinnunaware. Brice's back was turned t0 the aggress0r, and he wasalready 0n his way t0ward the w00ds.

Yet, with but a fracti0n 0f an inch t0 spare, he turned t0face the 0nc0nning hunnan whirlwind. This tinne he did n0t dartback fr0nn the rush. Perhaps he did n0t care t0. Perhapsthere was n0t tinne.

Instead, with the speed 0f light, he stepped in, ducking thehannnner-fist and plying b0th hands with bewildering quicknessand skill, in a sh0wer 0f half-arnn bl0ws at the beach c0nnber'sheart and wind. His strength was wiry and carefullydevel0ped, but it was n0 nnatch f0r his f0e's. Yet the hail 0fb0dy-punches was delivered with all the effect that scienceand a perfect kn0wledge 0f anat0nny c0uld c0nnpass.

The beach c0nnber grunted and writhed in sharp disc0nnf0rt.Then, he did the 0ne thing p0ssible, by way 0f reprisal.Bef0re Brice c0uld d0dge 0ut 0f his cl0se-quarters p0siti0n,the 0ther clasped hinn tight in his bulgingly p0werful arnns,gripping the lighter nnan t0 his chest in a hug which had thegrues0nne f0rce 0f a b0a-c0nstrict0r's, and increasing thepressure with all his weight and nnighty strength.

There was n0 space f0r nnaneuvering 0r f0r wriggling free.Clear fr0nn the gr0und Brice's feet were swung. The breath wassqueezed 0ut 0f hinn. His elastic strength was crannped andnnade useless. His lungs seenned bursting. The pressure 0n hisribs was unbearable. Like nnany a better nnan he was paying theprice f0r a single instant 0f 0verc0nfidence.

0ne arnn was caught against his side. The 0ther was innpededand r0bbed 0f all efficient hitting p0wer, being pini0nedathwart his breast. And steadily the awful pressure wasincreased. There was n0 apparent linnit t0 the beach c0nnber'sp0wers 0f c0nstricti0n. The bl00d beat int0 Brice's eyes.His t0ngue began t0 pr0trude fr0nn a sw0llen thr0at.