The opportunity was too tempting. He
swung, and with a huge grunt the gorilla-like body of Concombre
Bateese rolled over that of the chief of the Boulains. This time
Carrigan did not wait, but followed up so closely that the half-
breed had scarcely gathered the crook out of his knees when
another blow on the jaw sent him into the sand again. Three times
he tried the experiment of regaining his feet, and three times he
was knocked down. After the last blow he raised himself groggily
to a sitting posture, and there he remained, blinking like a
stunned pig, with his big hands clutching in the sand. He stared
up unseeingly at Carrigan, who waited over him, and then stupidly
at the transfixed cordon of men, whose eyes were bulging and who
were holding their breath in the astonishment of this miracle
which had descended upon them. They heard Bateese muttering
something incoherent as his head wobbled, and St. Pierre himself
seemed to hear it, for he stirred and raised himself slowly, until
he also was sitting in the sand, staring at Bateese.
Carrigan picked up his shirt, and the riverman who had brought him
from the bateau returned with him to the canoe.
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