at once , with awesome speed and competence , a group of men rushed to the side of the injured bearer , cut him loose from his straps , and while one of them hurried to take his place , the other two held the useless invalid down and a third , without a moments hesitation , plunged his knife into the mans abdomen , ripped him open ( all along oblivious to his shrieks ) , and with a few expert thrusts of the blade removed the dying mans liver and then , with a quick bow , he held it up to the rider , glistening with fresh blood and still pulsing .