d direction.

"Swine!" swore a harelipped Mexican, whipping out his cutlas. "I'll see
your black heart for that!" and furiously made play to avenge insult to
his sorely handled fellow.

The black giant turned as calmly as if his mistress had called him, and
seized the fellow's cutlas hand in one huge fist, crushing bone and
steel into gory pulp without visible effort. His lips never opened, his
tremendous chest was ruffled not one whit; Milo's eyes alone gave
warning of what he might do if occasion arose; and fooled by his obvious
carelessness, the white men closed around him, knives and cutlases
drawn, frantic for his life.

They should have known better. Their lessons had been many and vivid;
but not a man of them all was of the caliber to learn from a slave. Milo
kept hold of his man's hand, and at the scrape of steel leaving
scabbard, he brought up his free hand and grasped the fellow's left
wrist. Then, springing aside with the resistless impulse of a charging
buffalo, he gained a clear space, and began to swing his victim by the
wrists.

One complete circle was made with the human club, then a catlike ruffian
watched his chance and darted in with murderous knife at Milo's breast
while the dreadful club was at his back. Cool as a mountain spring, the
giant immediately let go his man, letting him fly far behind him like a
stone from a catapult. In a twinkling of an eye, the great hands that
released the one captive closed afresh on the new assailant in front,
and now the giant gave no further grace. His fingers tightened on the
man's throat and the desperate face went black. Then, keeping the fellow
ever before him, he suddenly flung him into the air by the waist,
shifting holds with tigerish swiftness, and caught him by the ankles as
he came down. He whirled the unfortunate wretch once, and three men went
down under the terrible blow; the rest scattered with furious howls,
bespattered with the blood of their comrade; but one more sight of the
unruffled giant cowed them; none attempted further knife or sword-play.
Then Milo smiled scornfully, and uttered: "Go!" and they went to the
forest like jackals before the lion. The giant saw them on their way,
and tossing his fearful weapon over the cliff, strode after them, an
awful embodiment of relentless, all but limitless strength.

The forest lay hushed and dim beyond the fringe; whispering leaves and
crackling twigs sounded sharp as a shower of stones in the still