The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-02-19

dred yards. She was still, however,
well in view, and the murlzy uncertain
twilight was settling into clear star
lit night. Our boilers were strained
to their utmost, and the frail shell vi
brated and creaked with the fierce en-
ergy which was driving us along. We
had shot through the pool past the
West India docks, down the long Dept
ford Reach, and up again after round
ing the Isle of Dogs. The dull blur in
front of us resolved itself now clearly
enough into the dainty Aurora. Jones
turned our searchlight upon her, so
that we could plainly see the figures
upon her deck. One man sat by the
stern, with something black between
his knees over which he stopped. Beside
him lay dark mass which looked like
a Newfoundland dog. The boy held the
tiller, while against the red glare of
the furnace / could see old Smith,
stripped to the waist, and shoveling
Goals for dear life. They may have had
some doubt at first as to whether we
were really pursuing them, but now as
we followed every winding and turn
ing which they took there could no
longer be any question about it. AT
Greenwich we were about three hundred
PAGES behind them. At Blackwell we
could not have been more than two
hundred and fifty. 1 have coursed
many creatures in many countries dur
ing my checkered career, but never did
sport give me such wild thrill as this
mad, flying man hunt down the
Thames. Steadily we drew in upon
them, yard by yard. In the silence
of the night we could hear the
painting and clanking of their ma
chinery. The man in the stern still
crouched upon the deck, and his arms
were moving as though he were busy,
while every now and then he would
look up and measure with glance the
distance which still separated us.
!. Nearer we came and nearer. Jones
yelled to them to stop. We were not
more than four boats lengths behind
them, both boats flying at tremen-
dous pace. 1t was clear reach of
the river, with Barking level upon
one side and the melancholy Plum
stead marshes upon the other At
our hail the man in the stern sprang
up from the deck and shook his two
clinched fists at us, cursing the while
in high, cracked voice. He
was a good-sized, powerful man,
and as he stood posing himself
with legs astride / could see that from
the thigh downwards there was but
wooden stump upon the right side. At
the sound of his strident, angry cries
there was movement in the huddled
bundle upon the deck. 1t Strengthened
itself into a little black mantle
smallest have ever seen-with great,
misshapen head and a shock of tangled,
disheveled hair. Holmes had already
drawn his revolver, and / whipped out
mine at the sight of this savage, dis
torted creature. He was wrapped in
some sort of dark ulster or blanket,
which left only his face exposed; but
that face was enough to give a man a
sleepless night. Never have seen
features so deeply marked with all bes-
tiality and cruelty. His small eyes
glowed and burned with somber light,
and his thick lips were writhed back
from his teeth, which grinned and chat
tered at us with half animal fury.
Fire if he raises his hand" said
Holmes, quietly. We were within
boats length by this time, and almost
within touch of our quarry. can see
the two of them now as they stood, the
white man with his legs far apart,
shrieking out curses, and the unhal
lowed dwarf, with his hideous face, and
his strong yellow teeth crashing at us
in the light of our lantern.
1t was well that we had so clear