A H D N T KR's r. I F K . 191 



I recollected was finding Shannon's right arm round iny 

 neck, and myself about half-way up, while he was striking 

 me very heavy blows in the side. 



As I found that it was useless to try to pull ray head 

 from him, I commenced climbing up, and succeeded in get- 

 ting on my feet. He was a left-handed man ; and as I 

 raised up he kept striking round, endeavoring to hit me 

 on the kidneys ; but, being up to that, I would throw my 

 body out of his reach. In the mean time, I caught at his 

 arm, to keep him from striking ; but I could not hold it, 

 and in the attempt, my hand slipped into his shirt-sleeve, 

 which he had rolled up above his elbow, to keep it out of 

 his way. That stopped him from striking ; and as I then 

 had all his front exposed to me, his right arm being over 

 ray left shoulder, I told him that it was now my turn. Oh I 

 but I was glad that I had a chance ; for he had beaten me 

 unmercifully. 



I laid one blow into him after another, in the pit of his 

 stomach ; and with every blow I found him growing 

 weaker. But, neglecting to keep close to him, with one 

 desperate effort he drew his right arm off my shoulder, 

 and, seizing my right hand with both his, put my fore- 

 finger between his strong jaws. 



I was really furious at that act ; and, in my anger and 

 desperation, I pushed iny hand into his mouth, with the 

 object of poking it down his throat, and, by choking him, 

 cause him to release it. In that attempt, finding that 

 my knuckles came against his nose and upper lip, I began 

 to job them with all my strength ; raising myself up, and 

 pitching my whole weight on my arm. After two or three 

 blows, I saw the blood pouring down ; when he began to 

 lean his head back, to escape the severe thumps I was giv- 

 ing him. 



Finding the grip of his teeth began to relax, I made a 

 desperate jerk, and pulled my finger out of his mouth ; 



