Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad
shoulders of his prey. In the instant of contact his fingers sought
and found the man's throat. The weight of the boy's body hurled
the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the
breath from him as he struck. Then a set of strong, white teeth
fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter
upon his wind-pipe. For a time the warrior struggled frantically,
throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist;
but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and
silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged
him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
Hidden there at last, safe from the prying eyes of searchers,
should they miss their fellow and return for him, the lad choked
the life from the body of his victim. At last he knew by the sudden
struggle, followed by limp relaxation, that the warrior was dead.
Then a strange desire seized him. His whole being quivered and
thrilled. Involuntarily he leaped to his feet and placed one foot
upon the body of his kill.
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