“Here is your end, then,” said Torpeon between his teeth.
As he spoke, a red flash issued from the end of the truncheon, which was leveled with true aim at Jack’s forehead. The result was surprising to the Prince, and highly agreeable to his antagonist.
The lightning bolt-bolt, if such it were, swerved from its course at an inch or so from its mark, and slipped round Jack’s head as a jet of water would be deflected round a glass sphere. The ozone whose scent hung in the air had a reviving effect rather than otherwise. Torpeon, himself, unbalanced by the shock of astonishment, did not have opportunity for a second attempt. Jack had made his spring, catching the right wrist with his left hand. He gave it a violent wrench, causing the truncheon to drop from his grasp. The weight of Jack’s impact against Torpeon’s body caused the latter to give ground, and the two men came to earth together, Jack uppermost.
Now began a struggle of heroic dimensions. Jack was not long in becoming aware that the strength he had to contend against surpassed anything heretofore experienced. Torpeon was a giant in power, and was fighting with a fury and desperation more than tigerlike. Had he been as well trained as was Jack in the science of wrestling, in the grips and shifts which bring leverage to bear against muscle, in the surprises and swift changes of that ancient and noble art, Jack would have had a labor of Hercules indeed. But that practised skill was lacking: Torpeon secure in his magical resources, had never been at the pains to prepare himself for personal struggle.
The grip of his great arms round Jack’s ribs was a sensation to be remembered. Jack’s right arm had also been caught in the vise, but his left was free, and he applied pressure beneath the other’s bearded chin, forcing his head back slowly and surely, until the imminence of a broken neck compelled the other to relax his hold. With both arms now liberated, the champion of America, twisting his body like a serpent, got a knee under Torpeon’s right elbow, and bore down upon the right forearm with a weight and power that caused agony almost unendurable: and foam flew from the prince’s lips. At the last extremity, however, he got his other arm round Jack’s neck, and using it as a fulcrum, tore himself free and staggered to his feet. But he was panting hard, and his right arm hung temporarily useless at his side. Jack was also well-breathed, but in much the better shape of the two. He had also fought himself into a good humor, and was disposed to friendly parley.
“There’s good material in you, if you’d taught yourself how to handle it properly,” he said. “I’m a peaceable sort, and I don’t want to hurt you. I have other things to attend to besides thrashing princes: and if you’re willing, I’ll call this thing off, and we’ll both go about our business. Or, if you’re not satisfied, I’ll try you out at sparring. But you’ll have to look out for my left uppercut.”
Torpeon, out of the corner of his eye, had caught sight of his truncheon lying on the ground near by, and thought that if he could repossess himself of it, he could make good the miss of the first discharge. He had felt enough of the stamina of his adversary to prefer whatever advantage he could command: and he was edging toward the weapon in the hope of getting a chance to pick it up, covering his design with words.
“You are a valiant warrior,” he said, compelling his features to assume an amicable aspect. “I need men like you at my right hand in the government of my kingdom. With you to help me, we can conquer the inhabitants of this planet, who are pusillanimous and averse from battle, and become rulers of all the globes that surround the sun.”
“It’s a handsome offer,” replied Jack smiling; “but I was never addicted to the business of ruling. The best thing you can do is run back home and take a thorough course in athletics; and then, if you ever happen along our way, I shall take pleasure in showing you over New York, and, if you like, I’ll take you on either at boxing or wrestling for points before the Royal Referee in the Madison Square Garden arena. We hold an amateur meet every year. But first, if you please,” he added, in another tone, “I’ll trouble you to take back what you said about a certain lady. You were lying, were you not?”
He made a step forward as he spoke. Torpeon, however, had by this time got close enough to the truncheon to feel safe in making an effort for it. He made a leap backward, at the same time stooping to snatch it up. But neither of the combatants, preoccupied with each other, had noticed the advent of a third party, who was now revealed.