The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-28

human DOQy OuUSlQ6 G0o OulWaTRS
against which 1 had seated myself. In
that case / should have detected the fig
ure that had crawled quietly over and
was now stealing along the deck toward
where lay. In his hand he carried q
thin cord at the end Of which was q
moose just capable Of encircling my
head.
Suddenly felt something touch my
throat. lifted my head, and at the
same instant the truth dawned upon
me. was being strangled. How long
time elapsed between the cord g touch
ing my neck and my losing conscious
ness could not say, but brief as was
the interval / can recollect seeing my
companion half raise himself. Then
came flash, loud report, sudden
singing in my ears, and remember no
more.
When recovered my wits again, my
companion was bending over me.
.sThank God, !" he said piously. II
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 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 revolver
mine, 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
exterminating us without delay.
Under the bulwarks and little to
the left of where sat was stout iron
bar some feet 6 inches in length. Imam
aged to secure it, and having done SO
felt a little easier in my mind.
As 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
''That's the introduction, y 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"
Bangl Another bullet whizzed past
my ear.
Bang! Ny 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
for some time he washed idly to and
fro. Never in my life before had seen
anything SO coolly deliberate as the way
in which he was picked off. It was
more like rabbit shooting than anything
else.
1.-TWO cartridges gonel'' said my
comrade.
AS he spoke bullet tore up the deck
at my feet, while another grazed my
TlS5uG SuOulu6E.
-Four. Keep steady; he's only two
left. Look out then, for They'll II rush us
to certainty. Iwish could get anoth-
er shot at them first
But this wish was not destined to be
gratified. The scoundrels had had suffi-
Gent evidence of his skill as marks
man and, being prudent though pre-
cious villains, they had no desire to re-
ceive further proof Of it. They therefore
kept in shelter.
Suddenly, without any warning, and
with greater majesty than ever re-
member to have observed in him before
or since, the sun rose in the cloudless
sky. Instantly with his coming light
and 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 figur-
ing as blears Of double darkness, reach
ing up to the very clouds, took to them
selves again their ordinary common
place and forlorp appearance.
Our course lay due east, and for this
reason the sun shone directly in our
faces, dazzling us, and for the moment
preventing our seeing anything that
might be occurring forard. 1 could
tell that this was matter of some con-
Germ to my companion, and certainly it
was not to remain very long matter Of
Indifference to me.
The sun had been above the sky line
scarcely a matter of two minutes when
another shot was fired from for ard,
and fell with cry to the deck. Next
moment had picked myself up again,
and, feeling very sick and giddy, scrann-
bled to my companion S side. He was as
cool and apparently as unconcerned as
ever.
"The other was the prologue-this is
going to be the play itself. Keep as
close to me as you can and, above all
things, fight to the death-accept no
quarter and give none. -
The words were hardly out of his
mouth before we heard scampering Of
bare feet upon the deck and success
sion of shrill yells, and then the vessel,