Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-05-19
l made full recovery of my sense:

! made full recovery of my sense:
with that. 1t was the negro Gabriel
who was gripping my sword arm. and
he it was who had dealt me the blow
doubtless aimed at another spoD that
l had taken so luckily on my cuirass
No one else seemed to be striving with
me. and indeed the negro himself was
between me and most of the others, he
having forced me, it seemed, back to
ward the rail. There was no time
for aught but desperate action. My
left side was swung away, and in my
left hand was still my dagger. had
not forgotten certain trick, learned
alongshore. and, without in the least
struggling to free my arm. set my
feet suddenly, fetching us both to
standstil1, and before he could in the
least guess my purpose let fly low
but powerful kick I cannot say
whether the shinbones of negro are
of the tenderness that is sail. but !
do know that Gabriel gave an agonized
yell and instantly released my arm.
His hand was already lifted, with his
knife in it, but that business went with
the pain. and he let go the weapon and
ran ducking backward, grading the
leg in his locked fingers. stayed not
to give him time to recover. My sword
now free, l made a quick dash and let
go vengeful thrust. The point took
him fair in the midst of his broad
breast, and he gave kind of below
and thrashcd instantly forward and to
the deck. So quick and peculiar was
his fall that had no time to withdraw
my blade, and it snapped short off
close by the hilt. Considerably dis
mayed, for it was poor time to be
disarmed, I let fall the useless hilt and
jumped backward. I had scarce
aighted when something gave hard
bump and rolled to my feet, and there
upon uncurling-I can describe the
motion no otherwise perceived it
to be the manned and bloody figure of
Towland. He was no more than be-
fore me when there came a surge of
tangled fighters. both Mr.. lynn and the
captain in the midst, and like straw
before their impact was flung stag
gering back, whereupon, bringing up
at the rail, could not, Despite des-
perate scramble, save myself. and
went over backward into the water!
Notwithstanding the headlong man.
ner of my falling and my heavy cui-
rass, came pretty quickly 10 the sur
face. was too good swimmer to be
easily put about by such mishap, and
therefore swallowed no water except
at first, and made the strokes that re-
turned me to the surface with meas
urable composure. The sloop had al
ready drifted three or four fathoms
away, and I could therefore get the
range of her deck, which I did in
kind of desperation, little doubling
that should behold the worst.
To my passing great amazement,
while Sellinger and Mac Ivrach had
disappeared, Mr.. lynn still maintained
the struggle. He had fought his way
to the forward deck. and, brought to
bay there, was steadily holding off the
whole crowding pack!
Yet moment of this, for. of course
it could not last. Paul CRADLE and
byte made furious rush. byte went
down under a lightning-like thrust, but
CRADLE seized Mr.. lynn round the waist
and flung him heavily to the deck. The
other wretches gave yell and began
to swarm up. and with that-forget-
ting even my own desperate easel
cried out and closed my eyes.
Iopened them again, when there was
great shout, followed by hard bang
ing of steel, and on staring that way
I saw the uprisen and bloody figure of
Capt. Sellinger, his sword in his hand,
and three of the buccaneers in full re-
treat before him. I looked hastily to
see what had become of Mr.. lynn. but
to my surprise he was still lying where
CRADLE had flung him, CRADLE himself
being nowhere to be seen. 1t was all
barely before my eyes when the three
buccaneers, as though recovered from
their panic, and ashamed of flying be-
fore one man, fetched to a halt. and
with a few heavy cuts and thrusts
forced the captain to a stand. tried
W lll NY wills, lOl ~ was sui cry IliIC
was taking my part in this business,
and, with a few padding strokes. striv-
ing to come to the strength and natu-
ralness of my limbs, I let out toward
the sloop. I had little fear of being
shot at by the three buccaneers, even
if they noticed me, for, as they, were
using only their swords against the
captain, it was clear they had no load
ed firearms, and, besides, the volleys
of the entire company had all along
been light, as though none but the
leaders had been provided with pistols.
This, indeed, had already guessed the
cause of, Tow!and and byte fearing
for the safety of Dona Carmen.
I pushed on boldly. then. only fear
ing lest the captain should not hold
out, and gradually drew toward the
dipping stern of the sloop. She had
drifted some little distance away in