He fought like a demon, perhaps divining that here strong men battled for a good woman's love.

The outlaw was proving to be no match for his opponent.

Arising from the ground where a mighty blow had sent him, he made a lightning-like effort to recover the knife which Benson had taken from him.
"Have a care!" cried the girl in quick alarm.

"That fiend in human form would murder you!" But Buck Benson's cool eye had seen the treachery in ample time.

With a muttered "Curse you, fiend that you are!" he seized the form of the outlaw in a powerful grasp, raised him high aloft as if he had been but a child, and was about to dash him to the ground when a new voice from the doorway froze him to immobility.