Kane gives up on training Max to be his obedient assistant and tries to kill him , but Freak arrives just in time and saves Max by squirting Kane with a squirt gun he claims is filled with sulfuric acid when in fact , it is filled with soap , vinegar , and curry powder . Kane gives up on training Max to be his obedient assistant and tries to kill him by strangling him , but Freak arrives just in time and saves Max by squirting Kane with a squirt gun in the eye which he claims is filled with sulfuric acid when in fact , it is filled with soap , vinegar , and curry powder .