Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-03-03

disquietude seized upon me. and made
me turn my head. Perhaps had heard
a creak, or seen his shadow moving
with the tail of my eye; perhaps it was
an instinct like a cats, but, sure
enough, when looked round, there was
Hands, already halfway toward me,
with the dirk in his right hand.
We must both have cried out aloud
when our eyes met; but while mine
was the shrill cry of terror, his was a
roar of fury like charging bulls. At
the same instant he threw himself for
ward, and l leaped sideways toward the
bows. As I did so 1 left hold of the
tiller, which sprung sharp to leeward;
and think this saved my life, for it
struck Hands across the chest, and
stopped him. for the moment, dead.
Before he could recover L was safe
out of the corner where he had trapped
me, with all the deck TO dodge about.
Just forward of the mainmast
topped, drew pistol from my pocket,
drew a cool aim, though he had already
turned and was once more coming di-
rectly after me, and drew the trigger.
The hammer fell, but there followed
neither flash nor sound; the printing
was useless with seawater. l cursed
myself for my neglect. Why had not
i, long before, reprimed and reloaded
my only weapon? Then / should not
have been, as now, mere fleeing sheep
before this butcher.
Wounded as he was, it was wonderful
how fast he could move, his grizzled
hair tumbling over his face, and his
face itself as red as n red ensign
with his haste and fury. l had no
time to try my other pistol, nor, in
deed, much inclination, for l was sure
it was useless. One thing / saw plain
ly; l must not simply retreat before
him, or he would speedily hold me
boxed in the bows, as a moment since
he had so nearly boxed me in the stern.
Once so caught, and nine or ten inches
of the blood-stained dirk would be
my last experience on this side of eter-
nifty. 1 placed my palms against the
mainmast, which was of goodish big
ness, and waited, every nerve upon the
stretch.
Seeing that I meant to dodge, he also
paused, and moment or two passed in
feints on his part, and corresponding
movements upon mine. 1t was such
game as 1 had often played at home
about the rocks of Black Hill cove;
but never before, YOU may be sure,
with such wildly beating heart as
now. Still, as 1 say, it was boys
game, and L thought / could hold my
own at it against an elderly seaman
with a wounded thigh. Indeed, my
courage had begun to rise so high that
l allowed myself a few darting thoughts
on what would be the end of the affair;
and while L saw certainly that could
spin it out for long, saw no hope of
any ultimate escape.
Well, while things stood thus, sud-
denly the ''Hispaniola" struck, stag
gered, ground for an instant in the
sand, and then, swift as blow, can
tered over to the port side, till the deck
stood at an angle of As degrees, and
about n puncheon of water splashed
into the scupper-holes, and lay in a
pool between the deck and bulwark.
We were both of US capsized in sec
ond, and both of us rolled, almost to-
gether, into the scuppers, the dead red
cap, with his arms still spread out,
tumblipg stiffly after us. So near were
we, indeed, that my head came against
the cockswain's foot with crack that
made my teeth rattle. Blow and all,
/ was the first afoot again, for Hands
had got involved with the dead body
The sudden canting of the ship had
made the deck no place for. running
on; had to find some new way of es-
cape, and that upon the instant, for
my foe was almost touching me.
Quick as thought 1 sprang into the
mizzen shrouds. ratified up hand over
hand, and did not draw q breath till
l was seated on the cross-trees.
! had been saved by being prompt;
the dirk had struck not half foot be-
low me, as 1 pursued my upward fight;
and there stood Israel Hands with his
mouth open and face upturned to mine,
4 perfect statue of surprise and 6isap-
pointment.
Now that had a moment to my
self, 1 lost no time in changing the
priming of my pistol, and then, having
one ready for service, and to make as
surance doubly sure, 1 proceeded to
draw the load of the other and re-
charge il afresh from the beginning.
My new employment struck Hands
all of a heap; he began to see the dice
vious hesitation, he again hauled him
self heavily into the shrouds, and, with
dirk in his teeth, began slowly and pain
fully to mount. 1t cost him no end |
of time and groans to haul his wounded |
leg behind him, and l had quietly fin |
ished my arrangements before he was
much more than third of the way up. |
Then, with pistol in either hand, / |
addressed him.
"One more step, Mr.. Hands," said !,
"and I'll blow your brains outI Dead |
men don't bite, you know" added,
with n chuclxle.
He stopped instantly. / could see by !
the workings Of his face that he was
trying to think, and the process was |
so slow and laborious that, in my new
found security, / laughed aloud. AT
last, with n swallow or two, he spoke,
his face still wearing the same express
sion of extreme perplexity. In order
to speak he had to take the dagger
from his mouth, but in all else he re-
mained unmoved.
"Jim," says he, 81 reckon we're
fouled, you and me, and Wen have to
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