Clement went down, but was up and running again at once. They were among rocks now, heading for a small torrent that roared down the mountain side. Neuburg dodged in and out of the rocks making for the stream, and there was blood along his trail. That was slowing him; he was hit.
By the stream Clement got him in the open and shouted and fired. Neuburg turned and with blazing revolver came back.
He charged like a bull. His revolver spat once, twice, but already Clement had jumped to cover behind a tree. The revolver spoke again, and then the murderer snarled in rage, dropped it and came on with his empty hands. Clement fired at his legs twice, apparently missed, and then flung his own empty pistol at the oncoming brute.
It struck him in the chest, and he brushed it aside as though it had been a gnat. Then he closed with Clement.
They went down, Clement battering with his one useful fist at the gross face. Neuburg ignored all blows and ground him back and into the earth, held him there, and felt blindly with his right hand for a piece of rock.
He found it and struck. Clement just had time to wriggle his head, and only his hat was crushed in. The great arm went up again with the huge, jagged splinter of stone. It poised, waiting its certain chance. Clement tried to struggle, but with knee and arm the giant man held him rigid. The arm with the rock heaved to strike.
Some one—the guide—came leaping straight from the blue at the poised Neuburg. The man simply took a header straight at the murderer. Head and shoulders and fists struck, and Neuburg went over. Clement wriggled up like a flash and flung himself on the huge brute.
Another man limped up at a run and hurled himself into the wriggling mass.
They fought and squirmed to hold the bull-like creature down. He shook them off. They went at him like terriers, clutching at leg or arm. A great fist flailed out and sent one man backwards into the bush. Clement shifted and caught him round the neck. He found himself being lifted into the air. He clung tighter, the other man gripped with clawing fingers at a thick arm. The arm swung and shook and the man went into the bushes spreadeagled. The great body whirled and Clement found himself spun off against a rock.