Page:History and adventures of Jack Mansong.pdf/23

23 Reeder, encouraged by the flight of Jack, and fearless of danger, with a cutlass in his hand, plunged headlong down, after him. The descent was nearly thirty yards and almost perpendicular—Both of them preserved their weapons in the fall.

Here was the spot on which two of the stoutest hearts that perhaps were ever hooped within ribs, began their bloody struggale. Having recovered their feet, the dreadful combat began, with all the savage fierceness of two enraged lions.

Tuckey, the little boy who had been ordered to keep out of harm‘s-way now reached the top of the precipice, and during the fight shot Jack in the belly.

Sam who at a distance beheld the scene cooly descended the field of action. When he arrived at the foot Jack and Reeder had closed and tumbled down another precipice, in which fall they both lost their weapons.

Sam, now perceiving their situation descended after them as quick as possible, and also lost his cutlass among the bushes in getting down.

He came up just time enough to save Reeder ; for though they were without weapons, and their wounds were deep and desperate, they were not idle. Jack had taught his antagonist by the throat with his giant's grasp.

The combatants now presented a most horrid spectacle—Reeder had his right hand almost cut off ; and Jack whose wounds were also deep and desperate, streamed with blood from his shoulder and belly. In short, both combatants were covered with blood and gashes.

In this state of the battle, Tuckey, the little boy who was armed with a pistol and cutlass, just came up ; he snapped his pistol at Jack, but it missed fired. Sam, however, was umpire, and decided the