I could almost picture in detail each act of the grim tragedy.

The two revengeful trackers--if there were only two engaged, for others might have been recruited on the steamer--must have crept up to the hut in the night, or early morning.

Possibly Kirby had learned of some other means of approach from the direction of the big river.

Anyway, the fact that Shrunk had been trapped within the cabin would indicate the final attack was a surprise.

The negro might have been asleep outside, and met his death in an attempt at escape, but the old white man, finding flight impossible, had fought desperately to the last and had killed one antagonist before receiving his death blow.