Evening star., 1898-05-28

with all his might. Make rush at the
SCoundrelS,'
But the crew We're not disposed to take
any risks, and. seeing this. Silva and his
evil companion drew each knife and made
across the deck for the edge of the hold
Quin knew that they intended to settle him
first and then finish the work of scuttling
the barge The thought of it fired his an
ger to white heat and blinded him to his
danger Instead of escaping from the other
side of the hold, as he might have done.
he determined to leap out empty handed
and fall upon the ruffians.
The rash resolve was made in the flash
of second, but before he could put it into
execution a most startling and unexpected
thing happened. A thick and leafy bough
of one Of the huge trees on the island ex-
tended over and beyond the hold, at a
height of dozen feet There was sud-
den movement and stir on this. and just as
Quin was half out Of the hold tremen-
dous python or boat was too dark to tell
which-dropped with thump to the deck.
almost upon Silva and his companion.
A terrible scene followed. Quin scram-
bled back In a hurry, and the ugly reptile,
as thick as a mans thigh, at once flung
Its coils about the wretched native, They
f1oundered this way and that over the deck,
the man screeching with agony and the
great serpent darting it's tongue and hiss
Ing. The frightened yells Of the crew and
the clamor of the Gagged beasts made a
biood-curdling chorus. And there was an
other sound that none gave heed to-a faint
OiiilHcuS roar 1dr OH IN the black sheet
that obscured sky and water.
The uneven struggle did not last long
The Portuguese, to give him his due, tried
hard to save his companion. He darted
mere ana there, at great risk seeking a
chance to make effective thrust with
bis knife. But it was no use. Man and
serpent suddenly collded hard with the
Isil, broke off length Of the rotten wood
work and rolled with a smash into tho
river.
With cry of despair Silva ran to the
spot and looked down. 1t was a careless
move. and 1t gave Quin his chance. He
was out Of the hold In trice, and as he
carted forward he shouted to the crew to
come and help him. Silva wheeled about,
knife In hand, and rushed savagely to the
| attack.
Il got you now!" he cried, with an OATH
| Il kill you, meddlesome dog of an English
man,
1.-TWO can play at that game"' roared
| Quin. Tn going to settle you this time,
! you devil!"
| He lodged to one side. turned like light
! ming and struck his enemy's uplifted arm
| such blow sent the knife whizzing
| through the air. Then he hurled himself
upon the Portuguese with the fury of a
maddened tiger. and down the two came
| with crash. Both were strong men, and
for an instant they rolled over and over on
| the deck, locked fast together. The crew
| had ventured near, but they showed a
strong dsincination to help their master.
| With excited yells they kept lodging out
| OF the way Of the combatants.
However Quin dnally got the Portuguese
| undermost and weakened him a little by
| humping his head on the deck. He pinned
| him fast by the choulders and glared into
| his sallow. terrified face.
| Mercy" whined Silva. "Spare me!'
| But Quin was mad with rage.
| ''Ill kill you like a dog!' he snarled.
Fetch me knife or pistol!' he roared
| at the crew.
| AS he spoke he partly relaxed his grip,
| and the Portuguese, aware Of this, gath
| cred his strength for a last struggle. He
upset his captor, leaped to his feet and
| made rush for the knife which lay close
| by. He actually got possession of 1t, scat
| tering the crew like sheep, but before he
| could use the weapon Quin was on his
| back. They swayed and fell,
| And at that very instant the long-de-
| layed storm-such storm as only the trop-
| les know-burst with all its concentrated
| fudy. Coming straight down stream, the
/ mighty wind was sucked into the narrow
| passage between the Star of Delhi and the
| island. There was a tremendous roar, and
a screech like 10000 shrill-voiced fiends.
| The mooring ropes snapped and the island
| side of the barge rose high from the water.
1t happened SO quickly that those on the
tilted deck had no time to seek shelter
The crew were saved By tumblinG against