"Help!" There was a sound of furniture scraped violently on the floor.

A gurgle from Dickson served as a guide, and the Poet suddenly cascaded over the combatants.

He felt for a head, found Leon's and gripped the neck so savagely that the owner loosened his hold on Dickson.

The last-named found himself being buffeted violently by heavy-shod feet which seemed to be manoeuvring before an unseen enemy.

He rolled out of the road and encountered another pair of feet, this time unshod.