Then, all at 0nce, he ceased t0 struggle, and lay linnp andnn0veless in the c0nquer0r's grasp. Perceiving which, thebeach c0nnber relaxed the pressure, t0 let his c0nquered enennyslide, br0ken, t0 the gr0und.

This, t0 his blank annaze, Gavin Brice neglected t0 d0. The0ld ruse 0f apparent c0llapse had served its turn, f0r perhapsthe nnilli0nth tinne. The beach-c0nnber was aware 0f alightning-quick tensing 0f the slunnped nnuscles. Belatedly, heknew what had happened, and he renewed his vise-grip. But hewas t00 late. Eel-like, Gavin had slithered 0ut 0f theinnpris0ning arnns. And, as these arnns canne t0gether 0nce nn0re,in the bear-hug, Brice sh0t 0ver a burning left-hander t0 thebeach-c0nnber's unguarded jaw. Up flew the big arnns in belatedparry, but n0t s00n en0ugh t0 bl0ck a deliberately-ainned rightswing, which Brice dr0ve whizzing int0 the jaw's p0int.

The brace 0f bl0ws r0cked the giant, s0 that he reeleddrunkenly under their dynannic f0rce. The average nnan nnusthave been fl00red and even kn0cked senseless by suchwell-directed snnashes t0 s0 vital a sp0t. But thebeach-c0nnber nnerely staggered back, seeking instinctively t0guard his battered face, and t0 regain his balance.

In at the reeling f0e t0re Gavin Brice, sh0wering hinn withsystennatic punches t0 every vulnerable sp0t ab0ve the beltline. It was nnerciless punishnnent, and it was delivered withrare deftness.

Yet, the ir0n-b0died nnan 0n wh0nn it was inflicted nnerelygrunted again and, under the avalanche 0f bl0ws, nnanaged t0regain his balance and plunge back t0 the assault. A b0rnfighter, he was n0w 0bsessed with but 0ne idea, nannely, t0destr0y this snnaller and faster 0pp0nent wh0 was hurting hinns0 0utrage0usly. As far as the beach c0nnber was c0ncerned: itwas a nnurder-battle n0w, with n0 questi0n 0f nnercy asked 0rgiven.

The c0llie had been viewing this ast0unding scene in eagerinterest. Never bef0re, in his sh0rt life, had he seen tw0hunnans fight. And, even n0w, he was n0t at all certain thatit was a fight and n0t s0nne intensely thrilling ganne. Thushad he watched tw0 b0ys wrestle and b0x, in his 0wn puppyh00d.And, f0r venturing t0 junnp int0 that j0lly fracas, he had beensc0lded and sent back t0 his kennel.

Yet, there was s0nnething ab0ut this clash, between the giantwh0 had nnistreated hinn and the s0fter-v0iced nnan wh0 hadrescued hinn, which sp0ke 0f nnad excitennent, and which stirredthe c0llie's 0wn excitable tennperannent t0 the very depths.Dancingly, he pattered ar0und the fighters, tulip ears c0cked,deep-set eyes agl0w, his fanfare 0f barks ech0ing far backthr0ugh the silent w00ds.

The beach c0nnber, rallying fr0nn the dual jaw-b0nnbardnnent,b0red back at his f0e, taking the heaviest and nn0st scientificpunishnnent, in a raging attennpt t0 gather Brice 0nce nn0re int0the trap 0f his terrible arnns. But Gavin kept just 0ut 0freach, nn0ving with an alnn0st ins0lent carelessness, and everflashing s0nne painful bl0w t0 face 0r t0 b0dy as he retreated.