But he was a dissolute brute, and for all his strength Yerkes' cleaner living very soon told.

Presently Will spared a hand to wrench at the ambitious thumb, and Coutlass screamed with agony.

Then he began to sway this way and that without volition of his own, yielding his balance, and losing it again and again.

In another minute Yerkes had him off his feet, cursing and kicking.
"Steady, Will!" called Monty from below; but it was altogether too late for advice.

Will gathered himself like a spring, and hurled the Greek downstairs backward.
Then the point of Monty's strategy appeared.