One of them was a negro.
Who, in fact, but our old friend the Prince of Limbi, the faithful Monday?
The other was one of the Greeks, a face unknown to Harvey, but one who has already figured in these pages.
Matteo!
And lying on the ground near him was a brigand struck down dead by brave Monday.
As Harvey came up, it was nearing the end of what had been a precious tough fight. Monday was uppermost, and Matteo, who had gradually succumbed to the wiry negro, was by this time in a very queer way indeed.
Monday held him by the throat, and in spite of his desperate efforts to set himself free, Matteo had lost his breath.
And there he lay completely at the negro's mercy.
"There, you dam tief!" exclaimed the Prince of Limbi, "take dat, an' dat, an' dat, an' now, be golly, have dis for a little bit in."
At every word he pressed harder and harder and jerked his adversary back.