Commodore Junk — page 270: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ASSASSINS. 263 His retreat was only witnessed by onc, for the struggle was continued on the floor. The two adversaries, locked in a tight embrace, strove to reach their feet, and, panting and weak, Humphrey had nearly succeeded in so doing, when his foe forced him backwards, and he fell to cling to the rugged stone- work. For as he was driven back the flooring seemed to crumble away beneath his feet ; there was a terrible jerk, and he found himself ‘hanging by his hands, his enemy clinging to him still, and the weight upon his muscles seeming as if 1t would tear them apart. In the hurry and excitement Humphrey could hardly comprehend his position for the moment. The next he under- stood it too well, for the stone which had given way fell with a hideous echoing noise, which came from a terrible distance below. Almost in total darkness, his hands cramped into the in- terval between two masses of broken stone which formed part of the débris of the roof above, hanging over a hideous gulf at the full stretch of his arms, and with his adversary’s hands fixed, talon-like, in garb and dress as he strove to clamber up him to the floor above. At every throe, as the man strove to grip Humphrey with his knees and climb up, some fragment of stone rushed down, to fall far beneath, splashing and echoing with a repetition of sounds that robbed him of such strength as remained to him, and a dreamy sensation came on apace. ‘Tt is the end,” thought Humphrey, for his fingers felt as if they were yielding, the chilling sensation of paralysis in- creased, and in another minute he knew that he must fall, when the grip upon him increased, and the man who clung uttered a hoarse yell for help. ‘Quick, for God’s sake! Quick!” he shricked. ‘I’m letting go!” Gomicbooks