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 gone; partly he'd spent it; partly those minutes—for it was minutes—of lung-breaking breathlessness had exhausted him; partly it was stun from blows on his head. It was of his head that he was most conscious; it was heavy and now light-feeling; then heavy again. The car seemed to swirl and swing about an endless curve; his eyes closed of themselves and he had to make conscious efforts of will to keep them open; his knees wanted to weaken and let him drop and lie on the floor.

"This man will kill me now," he had to remind himself to keep up. "This man will kill me, if he can. Now he's coming to do it."

For Russell was advancing on him; and Gregg jerked his head up and straightened. He raised his left aim for guard and Russell, having no plan to strike, grabbed it and pulled back, swinging Gregg toward the wide-open door.

"He's throwing me out!" Gregg recognized, and tried to pull up on Russell and clench with him as before; but this time Russell stopped that or Gregg was too weak. Russell pulled back farther and got Gregg swinging; so Gregg let his knees go and let himself drop. This brought him nearer to Russell; but not near enough, for Russell was able to raise him as he swung and keep him almost clear of the floor. Russell pulled up higher to swing Gregg entirely free; he had him almost to the door now; and Russell let go and flung him. Too soon; a half of a half-second too soon; for Gregg struck the side of the car at the very edge of the door; he bumped back and slid down directly at the opening, and Russell, following, kicked him to send him out; but Gregg grabbed the leg. Gregg's own legs went out over nothing—out the door that meant