The Washington times., 1902-07-06
at. made a desperate thrust at

boat. made desperate thrust at
| me.
saw 1t coming, and knew t would
reach its mark. Aye, it did So and
scraped along the ribs of my right
side as II some one had gripped me
with the clamps of a red-hot iron.
lost my grip on the sword and
it fell into the water Just as the other
boat, weighted by Hazeltine's body on
the gIinwaIe. turned over and tipped
the whole crew, the dead. the dying. and
the living into the shallow water.
The pain / felt, the despair that was
in me long before came to this en-
counter. set me doubly against this man
who had been the cause of it, and
leaped down into the water and grapplei
with him there as he stood up. No words
were necessary now. We knew that.
whatever the others might do, this was
the end. and neither would let go his
hold until one of us was dead.
He was a powerful man. and though
had him by the throat he caught me
by the waist. and. putting his foot be-
hind me, tripped me up and we fell under
the water between the upright and
empty boats-he on top, l underneath.
And there in this two-foot depth of
water we struggled and kicked and grap-
pied with one another for all eternity.
Lying on my back under the water.
there came a humping in my ears and
my veins began to swell. had no
thought nor fear of death. nothing went
into my mind but sense that ! must
not open my mouth. and then, with
wrench and a struggle that knew must
be the last, I caught him under one
arm and over his neck. It is an old
wrest1er's hold. and with the strength
of all my body and all the good years Of
health and training, l bent his head
down and his shoulders up till he weak
ened his hold on me to save his neck.
Then in an instant over he rolled
under the water, struggling. kicking,
gurgling. and II opened my lips and
took in a prodigious gust OF air. and
then closed my fingers on his throat
and put one knee on his chest, digging
the other foot into the mud between his
legs.
cannot think of 1t even now, long
years after, without the sweat running
down my spine. T was friGhtful then.
t is so now. For soon bubbles crept
up to the surface and burst beneath
my nose. and a horrible gurgling sound
came up as If from the depths of hell out
of the water. And still held him there,
working my frenzied fingers into his
throat. till his grip began TO weaken
and the bubbles came not so fast. And
still thrust my fingers into his flesh
and held my knees hard upon his chest.
And his hold relaxed the more.
Then. of sudden, horror seized me
of the thing lying there beneath the
water, which l could not see but could
feel warm and soft under me! can
and shall for as long as l can feel any
thing In this body of mine-a horror |
could no more control than l could the
tides-and jumped to my feet and lifted
the shapeless mass and pitched it into
the boat as she pushed her nose into me
and Curtis Cried out:
Quick, man. the guard. quick for your
life,'
."And what think you. man. l care for
life?" said |, as | saw dark figures NOV
ing down the lane.
Then | gave the boat all the strength
stream, calling:
Remember, Curtis, dead or alive:
dead or alive, he goes to Washington.
Remember. man, remembers as you love
God. remeEEp!." --....-