The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-12
CHAPTER VI.
TCONTINUED.I !

CONTINUED.
I waited some time impatiently,
watching for signs of land, but none
appeared. Looking astern, I was
startled at the sight OF alarge Tin stick
ing ADORE the water, and following the
Yacht. knew it was shark. An
other thing that alarmed me even more
than the presence of the shark, was
the fact that the wake of the vessel
showed that she was describing cir
Gle. There must be a motive in that,
and I OWNED it to be plan of Mr..
Snell's to keep Us ahost until, worn
out by exhaustion Il would go to sleep
and become an easy prey. had slept
but little the night before, and if Mr..
Smell could keep up his tactics much
longer, must give way.
The more I studied the matter the
more convinced I became that for the
second time Mr.. Smell was plotting my
murder. I noticed change, also, in
the demeanor of the crew. They,looked
at me in a threatening way, and knew
that the possession of the rifle was the
only thing that saved me from an at.
tack.
The thought of being defeated and
murdered by this wretch, Gambok
Smell, and his ugly crew maddened
me. Much more did the horrible
thought of leaving Miss Arnold
to the mercies Of this arch
fiend. Nothing could be gained by
making threats. I must make bold
move. I felt no sorrow for what was
about to do. Gambok Smell was so
utterly wicked that he merited death.
And, besides that, it was simply amat-
ter of tit for tat between him and me.
Without further talk I Istooped down
and picked him up. Igrabbed him by
the neck and leg and lifted him in the
air. He uttered dreadful curses and
attempted to kick my face. he called
to the crew, and I saw that they were
coming to his assistance. Summon
ing all my strength, I hurled the mis-
creant out into the water, and then,
seizing my rifle. turned to meet the
infuriated crew. One of them stopped
to throw a buoy to Mr.. Smell, and I
shot him before he got it over the
rail.
Miss Arnold had screamed once,
when Mr.. Smell went overheard, but
now sat pale and motionless.
The Chinaman who seemed to be the
commander of the crew drew pistol
from his belt, but my rife sent him
headlong before lie could use it.
There were two left. One of them
succeeded in getting a shot at me,
which wounded my left arm. AS it
fell useless by my side my rife gave
its last bark, and he went down. The
last of one of the crew now came for
me with cutlass. attempted to get
the pistol with my one good hand, but
it dropped to the deck. The heathen
was on me.
I drew my sword and made slash
at him: We moved forward a little,
hacking at esch other furiously. I
could ordinarily have cut him down
with mere brute strength, but my
wound placed me at the mercy of his
superior workmanship. With ter
rifle blow he sent my sword hurting to
the deck and raised his cutlass.
shut my eyes, expecting to feel
the keen blade in my skull the next
instant.
Twas helpless.
Just when I expected to feel my
deathblow, I felt some one brush past
me. The sharp report of pistol rang
out, and with shrek the Chinaman
fell to the deck. Miss Arnold had
grasped the pistol that I dropped and
had saved my life.
At that moment horrible cry came
from the water. I saw Gambok Smell
being drawn down into the sea. I
knew that the shark had found his
victim.
My eyes met those of Miss Arnold's
rs we turned from the scene. Neither
of us spoke. clasped her hand and
presse ed it.
"You are woundedw she cried.
''It is not Serious" I replied; "but
you can help me bandage it"
With deft and nimble fingers she
followed my instructions. and bound
= handkerchief tightly around my arm.
"Thank you," I said; ''it will do
nicely now"
But she did not hear me. Strong
and courageous when I was near to
death, she had swept away my enemy
with sure and deadly aim, and calm
still when I needed her services to
bind my wounded arm; but when it
was all over she was woman again.
She had tainted.
It was then my turn to become
nurse, and my strength did not fail
me in the emergency. I bathed her
face. I chafed her hands. At last
she came to, her head resting on my
arm. Her eyes looked up into mine,
and she smiled. I was content. We
had both escaped death.