I had one down, a bearded ruffian, planting my fist full in his face, and sent the other groaning backward with a kick in the stomach, when the three from within burst forth and flung me face down into the earth, and pinned me flat beneath their weight.

An instant later Broussard's belt was strapped tightly, binding my hands helplessly to my sides, and I was hurled over so that I stared up blindly into the face of the fellow in command.

His black eyes were sneering, while the unpleasant smile revealed a row of white teeth.
"Great God, man," he exclaimed, "you must have the skull of an elephant.

Are you actually alive ?" "Very much so," I gasped, defiant still.
"Maybe I finish heem, Monsieur," questioned Broussard, with knee still planted on my chest.

"Then he not talk, hey ?" The leader laughed, with a wave of the hand.