They once more approached one another, each with the armed hand up,--the left,--and a fiercer and more terrible contest was renewed.

The instability of the element, however, on which they fought, prevented them from using their weapons with effect.

At all events they played about each other, offering and warding off the blows, when Shawn exclaimed,--having grasped his opponent with his right arm,-- "I am tired of this; it must be now sink or swim between us.

To die here is better than to die on the gallows." As he spoke both sank, and for about half a minute became invisible.

The spectators from the shore now gave them both over for lost; one of them only emerged with the fatal middogue in his hand, but his opponent appeared not, and for the best reason in the world: he was on his way to the bottom of the lake.