Chauvenet slipped down and ran forward with the quick, soft glide of a cat and caught the bridle of the stranger's horse.

The horseman struggled in Zmai's great arms, and his beast plunged wildly.

No words passed.

The rider had kicked his feet out of the stirrups and gripped the horse hard with his legs.

His arms were flung up to protect his head, over which Zmai tried to force the sack.
"The knife ?" bawled the Servian.
"No!" answered Chauvenet.
"The devil!" yelled the rider; and dug his spurs into the rearing beast's flanks.
Chauvenet held on valiantly with both hands to the horse's head.