With a triumphant snarl Gaston Giddings forced his antagonist to the stern rail. Still Tom Halstead fought furiously, silently, with that tight grip at his throat making his brain reel. He realized that Gaston Giddings was winning the victory!
CHAPTER XII TOO-WHOO-OO! IS THE WORD
In that last desperate moment Tom Halstead employed the trick he had hesitated to use.
He raised one of his feet, kicking smartly at the left knee-cap of his assailant.
With a groan, Giddings weakened his hold, for the pain following the kick was intense.
Throwing both his arms tightly around the young man, Halstead held on, drawing himself back to the deck as Giddings fell back.
"You're not going to fool me that way!" snarled the young drug maniac. He made another spring, trying to forget the pain in his knee.
But Halstead had regained his footing fully. Now, he dodged, then closed in, tripping Giddings and throwing him heavily to the deck.
"What's this? What's this going on?" demanded Joseph Baldwin, running back along the port side, followed by Mr. Ross and Dr. Gray.