Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-17

Before he could recover I was safe
out of the corner where he had trapped
me, with all the deck to dodge about.
| just forward of the mainmast
topped, drew pistol from my pocket,
| drew cool aim, though he had already
turned and was once more coming di-
rectly after me, and drew the trigger.
The hammer fell, but there followed
neither flash nor sound; the printing
was useless with seawater. l cursed
myself for my neglect. Why had not
i, long before, reprinted and reloaded
my only weapon? Then I should not
have been, as now. mere fleeing sheep
before this butcher.
Wounded as he was, it was wonderful
how fast he could move, his prizzled
hair tumbnng over his face, and his
face itself as red as red ensign
with his haste and fury. 1 had no
time to try my other pistol, nor, in
deed. much inclination, for was sure
1t was useless. One thing / saw plain
ly; l must not simply retreat before
him, or he would speedily hold me
poxed IN the bows, as a moment since
he had SO nearly boxed ne IN the stern.
Once so caught, and nine or ten inches
of the blood-s+ained dirk would be
my last experience on this side Of eter-
nifty. l placed my palms against the
mainmast which was Of goodish big
ness, and waited, every nerve upon the
stretch.
Seeing that I meant to dodge, he also
mr. NJ
feints on his part, and corresponding
movements upon mine. 1t was such
game as I had often played at home
about the rocks of Black Hill cove;
but never before, you may be sure,
with such a wildly beating heart as
now. Still, as I say. it was boys
game, and thought I could hold my
own at it against an elderly seaman
with a wounded thigh. Indeed. my
courage had begun to rise SO high that
allowed myself a few darting thoughts
on what would be the end Of the affair;
and while l. saw certainly that could
spin it out for long. saw no hope OF
any ultimate escape.
Well, while things stood thus, sud-
denly the "Hispaniola" struck, stag
gered, ground for an instant in the
sand. and then, swift as a blow, can
tered over 20 the porteide, till the deck
stood at an angle of as degrees, and
about puneheon of water spfa shed
into the scupper-holes, and lay in q
pool between the deck and bulwaSk.
We were both of us capsizedin a Sec
ond, and both Of US rolled almost to-
gether, into the scuppers, the dead red
cap, with his arms still spread out,
tunbling s.ifily after US. So near were
we, indeed, that my head came against
the cockswain's foot with crack that
made my teeth rattle. Blow aud all,
l was the first afoot again, for Hands
had got involved with the dead body.
The sudden canting Of the ship had
made the deck no place for running
on; L had to find some new way Of es-
cape, and that upon the instant, for
my foe was almost touching me.
Quick as thought sprane into the
mizzen shrouds, ratified up hand over
hand, and did not draw breath till
1 was seated on the cross-trees.
had been saved by being prompt;
the dirk had struck not a half.foot be-
low me, as pursued my upwardfight;
and there stood Israel Hands with his
mouth open and face upturnedto mine,
a perfect statue of surprise and disap-
pointment.
Now that I had a moment TO N.Y.
self, lost no time in changing the
printing of my pistol, and then, having
one ready for service, and TO make as
surance doubly sure, l proceeded to
draw the load of the other and re-
charge it afresh from the beginning.
My new employment struck Hands
all of a heap; he began to see the dice
going against him; and after an OBJ
vious hesitation, he again hauled him
self heavily into The shrouds, and, with
dirk In his teeth, began slowly and pain
fully to mount. 1t cost him no end
of time and groans to haul his wounded
leg behind him. and l had quietly fln-
ished my arrangements before he was
much more than third Of the way up.
Then, with pistol in either hand, I
addressed him.
"One more step, Mr.. Hands," said I,
land III blow your brains out! Dead
men don't bite, you know" I added,
with chuckle.
He stopped Instantly could see by
the workings of his face that he was
trying to think, and the process was
so slow and laborious that, In my new
found security. l laughed aloud. At
last, with a swallow or two, he spoke,
his face still wearing the same express
sion of extreme perplexity. In order
TO speak he had to take the dagger
from his mouth, but IN all else he re-
manned unmoved.
"Jim," says he, 81 reckon we'ro
fouled, you and me, and Wen have to
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