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           Thewrestlerdroppedatlast;andAlan,leapingbacktogethisdistance,ranupontheotherslikeabull,roaringashewent.Theybrokebeforehimlikewater,turning,andrunning,andfallingoneagainstanotherintheirhaste.Theswordinhishandsflashedlikequicksilverintothehuddleofourfleeingenemies;andateveryflashtherecamethescreamofamanhurt.Iwasstillthinkingwewerelost,whenlo!theywereallgone,andAlanwasdrivingthemalongthedeckasasheep-dogchasessheep.

           Yethewasnosooneroutthanhewasbackagain,beingascautiousashewasbrave;andmeanwhiletheseamencontinuedrunningandcryingoutasifhewasstillbehindthem;andweheardthemtumbleoneuponanotherintotheforecastle,andclap-tothehatchuponthetop.

           Theround-housewaslikeashambles;threeweredeadinside,anotherlayinhisdeathagonyacrossthethreshold;andtherewereAlanandIvictoriousandunhurt.

           Hecameuptomewithopenarms.“Cometomyarms!”hecried,andembracedandkissedmeharduponbothcheeks.“David,”saidhe,“Iloveyoulikeabrother.AndO,man,”hecriedinakindofecstasy,“amInoabonnyfighter?”

           Thereuponheturnedtothefourenemies,passedhisswordcleanthrougheachofthem,andtumbledthemoutofdoorsoneaftertheother.Ashedidso,hekepthummingandsingingandwhistlingtohimself,likeamantryingtorecallanair;onlywhatHEwastryingwastomakeone.Allthewhile,theflushwasinhisface,andhiseyeswereasbrightasafive-year-oldchild’swithanewtoy.