These muttered words were all that he spoke; after that his lips remained as close and immovable as the clasps of a vise. A few more sweeps of the paddle, almost noiselessly given, served to bring the canoe to the opposite shore, which the prow struck with a slight grating sound. Laying down the paddle, the giant leaped upon the shore, and grasping the canoe pulled it upon the pebbly bench so that it could not be carried away by the action of the water. As he turned around after doing this thing, a dark shadowy form arose beside him, where it had up to this time crouched in the obscurity. Other ears than the boy's had heard the suspicious dip of the paddle, and eyes that were hostile to his cause had witnessed the crossing of the giant. Mason from his position saw this form rise up, and he realized the danger of the late oarsman, but not by word or deed did he attempt to warn the giant who was his deadly foe. There was no necessity for a warning, however, for Red Goliath saw the uprising of the tall form that seemed almost to rival his own. This modern giant and Hercules possessed a fierce nature, similar to that of a wild beast, and on stated occasions his thirst for blood became almost a mania, that could only be quenched in the life fluid of some one. Perhaps one of these moods was coming upon him even then. A looker-on would have been inclined to think so upon hearing the growl of satisfaction he gave utterance to. When foemen worthy of each other's steel come in contact, there is seldom much time lost in skirmishing. The Red Goliath threw himself upon his Indian foe with an agility one would hardly expect him to possess. His assault, overpowering as it seemed, was right valiantly met by his sturdy opponent, and as the two closed, Mason could no longer see the particulars of the combat. There was a threshing of arms for half a moment, then came the dull, sodden sound of blows delivered with telling force, and which must proceed from the white man. The crushing nature of these was soon made clear. One of the gigantic forms raised the other high in the air with but feeble resistance, and dashed him upon the ground with tremendous power. As if intent on making sure of his work, the Red Goliath stooped over his fallen foe. Something gleamed in the faint light; the sound of a blow reached Mason's ears, and the blade did not shine when it was again raised. A hoarse chuckle that would have curdled the blood in the veins of a sensitive person proceeded from the human vampire as he arose to his feet, and after giving the corpse a kick with his heavily booted foot, replaced his knife. It was certainly a fair fight, and the giant had the same privilege of slaying his fallen enemy that was granted in the arena at the hippodrome of Rome during ancient times; but civilization has brought with it the noble act of forgiving foes, which, however, such men as this seldom practice.