as
slow and got a blow (aimed at his chin) in the middle of his forehead.
Down he went like a nine-pin, but was up as quickly, and ready for
Harberth who had rushed at him in the act of rising, while the referee
shouted "Stand clear".

As he came on, Dam fell on one knee and drove at his mark again.

Harberth grunted and placed his hands on the smitten spot.

Judging time and distance well, Dam hit with all his force at the
bully's chin and he went down like a log.

Rising majestically, the time-keeper lifted up his voice and counted:
"_One--two--three--four--five--six"_--and Harberth opened his eyes,
sat up, "_seven--eight--nine_"--and lay down again; and just as Dam
was about to leap for joy and the audience to roar their
approval--instead of the fatal "_OUT_" the time-keeper called
"_Time_".

Had Dam struck the blow a second sooner, the fight would have been
over and he would have won. As it was, Harberth had the whole interval
in which to recover. Dam's own luck! (But Miss Smellie had always said
there is no such thing as Luck!) Well--so much the better. _Fighting_
the Snake was the real joy, and victory would end it. So would defeat
and he must not get cock-a-hoop and careless.

Delorme filled his mouth with water and ejected it in a fine spray
over Dam's head and chest. He was very proud of this feat, but, though
most refreshing, Dam could have preferred that the water had come from
a sprayer.

"Seconds out of the ring, _Time!_" called the referee.

Harberth appeared quite recovered, but he was of a curious colour and
seemed tired.

Acting on his second's advice, Dam gave his whole attention to getting
at his opponent's body again, and overdid it. As Harberth struck at
him with his left, he ducked, and as he was aiming at Harberth's mark,
he was suddenly knocked from day into night, from light into darkness,
from life into death....

Years passed and Dam strove to explain that the mainspring had broken
and that he had heard it click--when suddenly a great black
drop-curtain rolled up, while some one snapped back some slides that
had covered his ears, and had completely deafened him.

Then he saw Harberth and heard the voice of the time-keeper saying:
"_five--six--seven_".

He scrambled to his knees, "_eight_" swayed and staggered to his feet,
collapsed, rose, "_nine_" and was knocked down by Harberth.

The time-keeper again stood up and counted, "_One--two--three_". But
this blow actually helped