The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-05

cold. the wind was rising, ana with :,
I the sea. Already the stars in the east
were paling perceptibly, and in another
hour at most day would be born.
could not take my eyes off tho
group seated frog fashion on the deck
for'ard. Their very backs held an awfnI
fascination for me.
But as it soon turned out, my inter.
est in them was almost my undoinp
for he'd | not been SO intent unon
watching what was before me should
perhaps have heard the rustling of a
human body outside the bulwarks
against which had seated myself. In
that case l should have detected the flo.
ure that had crawled quietly over and
was bow stealing along the deck toward
where lay. In his hand he carried a
thin cord at the end of which was a
moose just capable of encircling nv
head
Suddenly felt something touch nv
throat. lifted my head, and at the
same instant the truth dawned upon
me. was being strangled. How long
time elapsed between the cord S touch
ing my neck and my losing conscious.
ness l could not say but brief as was
the interval l can reoollect seeing nv
companion half raise himself. Then
came fash. a loud report, sudden
singing in my ears, and remember no
more.
When l recovered my wits again, nv
companion was bending over me.
"Thank God" he said piously. 81
began to think the brute had done for
you. Now pull yourself together as fast
as you can. for there's going to be seri
Gus trouble" -
looked round me as we'll as could.
By my side lay the body of the man,
with the cord still in his hand, and
from the way in which one arm was
stretched out and the other doubled un-
der him l gathered that he was dead.
Amidships the crew of the junk were
assembled, listening to the excited ora
tory of the little pockmarked devil
against whom my companion had warn.
ed me. He held in his hand a revolver
mime, had no difficulty in guessing
and from the. way in which he turned
and pointed in our direction I under.
stood that he was explaining to the
others the necessity which existed for
discriminating us without delay.
Under the bulwarks and little to
the left Of where sat was stout iron
bar some feet inches in length. Imam.
aged to secure it, and having done SO
felt little easier in my mind
AS l crawled back to my station an.
other report greeted my ears, and at the
same instant bullet bedded itself in
the woodwork within an inch of my
left temple.
"Thats the introduction, said my
imperturbable friend, with grim
smile. care you ready? He's got the
only weapon among them and five more
cartridges left in it. Keep by me and
give no quarter, for, remember, if they
win they'll show you none"
Bang! Another bullet whizzed past
my ear. -
Bangl My companion gave low
whistle and then turned to me.
"Grazed my forearm, he said calm.
ly, and then. raising his pistol. shot the
nearest of our assailants dead. The man
gave little cry, more like sob, and
with outspread arms fell on his face up.
on the deck. The next roll Of the vessel
carried him into the lee scuppers where
Tor some time he washed idly to and
fro. Never in my life before had I seen
anything so coolly deliberate as the way
In which he was picked off. 1t was
more like rabbit shooting than anything
else.
1.-TWO cartridges goner' said my
AS he spoke bullet tore up the deck
at my feet, while another grazed my
right shoulder
-Four. Keep steady; he's only two
left. Look out then, for they'll rush US
to certainty. Iwish Icould get anoth.
er shot at them first"
But this wish was not destined to be
yratified. The scoundrels had had suffi-
,ient evidence Of his skill as q marks
man and, being prudent though pre-
,ious villains, they had no desire to re-
,eive further proof Of it. They therefore
Kept in shelter.
ouuuehiy' Wltnout any warning. and
with greater majesty than I ever re-
member to have observed in him before
II since, the sun rose in the cloudless
ky. Instantly with his coming light
md color shot across the waters, the
waves from being of dull leaden hue
became green and foam crested, and the
great fiber sails of the junk from fgur-
ng as blears of double darkness, reach
ng up to the very clouds, took to them
selves again their ordinary common
'lace and forlorn appearance.
Our course lay due east. and for this
eason the sun shone directly in our
aces dazzling as, and for the moment
preventing our seeing anything that
night be occurring for'ard. l could
ell that this was matter Of some con-
ern to my companion, and certainly it
vas not to remain very long q matter of
Indifference to me.
"