"Here!" somebody yelled. "Leave 'em be, you fool!"
He ignored the warning, heaved the man from his victim.
The fellow came to his feet, stared at him with that glazed intensity as if he didn't realize what had happened. Then without a sound he hurled himself at Joel's throat!
III
Joel wasn't taken entirely by surprise. But the ferocity of the attack drove him back a few steps. He wrapped his arms about the man's shoulders and hung on.
A furious animal smell filled his nostrils. The man was berserk, his breath whistling through his teeth as he strove to tear himself free. Then like a mad dog, he sank his teeth in Joel's shoulder.
Joel gave a yelp of surprise, pushed him off, hit him with his clubbed fist.
His assailant reeled backwards, staggered to his knees. He was a giant of a fellow with shaggy black hair and curious yellow-gray eyes.
Joel was on him like a tiger, smashing his fist into the giant's unprotected face.