Suddenly the gondolier darted to one side and sprang up the steps until he was on a level with the other man. Mullura tried to prevent this, but he was not quick enough. He leaped forward, striking at the gondolier.
Reggio flung up his hand and warded the blow, the knives clinking as they met and rasping as they parted with a twist.
The gondolier gave the other a swing and then struck under like a flash, but Mullura leaped backward and escaped.
The struggle that followed was of a silent, deadly sort.
Dick and Brad pressed near to watch, but did not try to interfere between the men.
Suddenly a door was flung open and a fan of light flared out upon the steps. In the open doorway, holding a lighted candle above her head, was a girl.
Both Dick and Brad gasped as they saw her, for they were struck with the fact that she was wonderfully beautiful. She was not more than seventeen, with eyes and hair as dark as deepest midnight. Her features were finely molded.
The girl’s face was very pale and her lips were parted. She made a wonderful picture as she stood there peering out at the fighting men.
The light of the candle enabled the men to see how to get at each other. Mullura cried:
“He forced it on me, Teresa! I do not wish to kill him, but now it is his life or mine!”