Kantos Kan and I fought on 
against many foes 
until it was almost dark, 
then he was chosen to battle 
a monster of a green man, 
nearly sixteen feet tall, 
who had mowed down all before him. 
I was concerned for my friend--
he had had some very close calls 
with green men during the day.
 

However, 
this time he employed a trick
that gives a fighter but one chance--
he drew back his arm and 
hurled his sword point-first, 
true as an arrow, 
straight to the poor devil's heart,
and laid him dead.

Now only Kantos Kan and I 
remained to fight each other. 
In the gathering darkness 
we fenced and parried, stalling, 
until the thinning crowd 
grew bored and angry 
at our temporizing.
 
 
 
 
 

I hinted to my friend 
to thrust his blade 
between my left arm and side, 
to fool the crowd into thinking
that he had finished me. 
In the dim light our trick worked. 
Then he gave me a false coup-de-gras 
and he was free.

I whispered to Kantos Kan 
to meet me in the hills 
east of the city. 
I lay where I had fallen, 
and he departed 
to claim his freedom.
 
 
 
 

I remained quiet and still
among the dead for some hours 
until night had completely fallen 
and the amphitheater 
had completely cleared.

--then crept--
 
 
 
 

--quietly and stealthily--

--out of the great arena--
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

--to the wall--

--and over the top.

The amphitheater 
was in an untenanted portion 
of the city,--
 
 
 

--so it was 
very little trouble to reach--

--the hills--

--beyond...