Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-23

The moment Of peril had come. lightly
as it had been treated. and. stirred 10
the heart by the treachery and horror OF
the deed intended. Humphrey sprang
from his place of concealment, struck the
buccaneers assailant full in the chest.
and they rolled over together on the tenn
pie hoord.
"Quick. lads, help shouted the man
whom Humphrey had seized, and two
companions rushed = for general melee
to ensne at terrible disadvantage, for the
assailants were armed with knives ard
those they assailed defenseless as to
weapons.
Humphrey knew this to his cost in the
quick struggle which ensuea. He had
writhed round as he struggled with the
would-be murderer, and contriyed to get
uppermost. when a keen sense OF pain
passing through one of his arms, made
him loosen his hold for a moment, and
the next he was dashed back
He sprang up. though, to seize his as
sailant. stung by the pain into 6t Of saw
age rage, when, as he clasped an enemy,
be found that it was not his first antago-
mist, but a lesser man. with whom he
closed fercely just as the fellow was
striving to get out of tLa doorway--a pur-
pose he effected, dragging Humphrey
with him.
The passage was darker than the inner
temple, where hoarse painting and the
sounds of contention were still going on.
oaths, curses and commands uttered in a
savage voice TO Give it him now!''-
Now strike, you fool!"-"Curse him. he's
like an eelr'-and the like came confus-
eddy through the doorway, as. smarting
with pain and grinding his teeth with
rage. Humphrey struggled on in the pas
sage. savagely determined to retain this
one a prisoner. as he fought to get the
mastery of the knife.
How it all occurred was more than he
could afterward clearly arrange in his
own mind; what he could recall was that
the pain weakened him, and the man
with whom he struggled wrenched his
left arm free, snatched the knife he held
from his right hand. and would have
plunged it into Humphreys breast had
not the latter struck him a sharp blow
upward in the face so vigorously that the
knife fell tinkling on the ground, and the
struggle was resumed upon more equal
terms.
1t was a matter of less than a min
ute, during which Humphrey fought less
for life than to master his assailant and
keep him a prisoner. They had been
down twice, tripping over the stone
strewn pavement, and once Humphrey
had been forced against the wall, but by
a sudden spring he had driven his oppo-
nent backward, and they were strug-
Cling in the middle of the opening. when
wild shrek rank out from the inner
temple-a cry which seemed to curdle the
young officers blood-and this was fol-
lowed by rush of someone escaping.
His retreat was only witnessed by one,
for the struggle was continued on the
floor. The two adyersaries, locked in
tight embrace, strove to reach their feet,
and, painting and weak. Humphrey had
nearly succeeded in so doing. when his
foe forced him backward, and he fell to
cling to the ragged stonework.
For as he was driven back the flooring
seemed to crumble away beneath his
feet; there was terrible jerk, and he
found himself hanging by his hands, les
enemy clinging TO him still, and the
weight upon his muscles seeming as if
it would tear them apart. In the hurry
and excitement Humphrey could hardly
comprehend his position for the moment.
The next he understood it too well, for
the stone which had given way fell with
hideous. echoing noise, which came
from terrible distance below.
Almost in total darkness. his hands
cramped into the interval between two
masses of broken stone which formed
part of the debris of the roof above,
hanging over a hideous gulf at the full
stretch of his arms. and with his adver-
sary's hands fixed talon-like in garb and
dress as he strove to Chamber up him to
the floor above.
AT every throe, as the man strove to
grip Humphrey with his knees and climb
up. some fragment of stone rushed down.
to fall far beneath. splashing and echo
ing with repetition of sounds that rob-
bed him of such strength as remained
to him, and dreamy sensation came on
apace.
1T is the end" thought Humphrey. for
his fingers felt as if they were yielding.
and in another minute he knew that he
must fall, when the grip upon him in
creased, and the man who chung uttered
hoarse yell for help.
"Quickv' he shrieked. I'm letting
gor'
But at that instant something dark
seemed to come between him and the
cleaning wet stone away above him in
the roof. and then there was quite an ava
lanche of small stones gliding by.