The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-05

10 hanu Sciimnage around the old
cabin. In all accounts lie had ever read
of such affairs and in all IDEAS he had
entertained on the subject this had al
ways been the ease. The two bodies
had shocked together like college
rush, there had been FIVE minutes play
oil knife ana club and gun, confused
whirl Of dust and smoke, anu all was
over before one had time either 10
think or be afraid. But nothing Of
the Kind happened that morning.
The B9rtha Millner's crew, in a, long
line, Moran ut one end, Wilbur ut the
other and Charlie III the center, came
on toward the beacheombers step by
step. There was little cutlery Each
contestant singled out his enemy ana
made slowly for him with eyes ilXed
aud weapon ready, regardless Of the
movements of his mates.
"See any rifles among them CharlieT
shouted Moran, suddenly breaking the
silence
mo, | tink no hab got" answered
Charlie.
Wilbur took another step forward
and cooked his revolver. one Of the
beachcombcrs shouted out something
in angry vernacular, ana Charlie in
stantly responded All this time the
line had been slowly advancing upon
the enemy, ana Wilbur began to won
der how long that heartbreaking sus-
penSe was to continue. This was not
at all what he had imagined Already
he was within twenty feet Of his man,
could see the evil CLINT of his slant,
small eye and the shine Of his yellow
body, naked to the belt. still foot by
foot the forward movement continued.
The Chinese on either side had begun
exchanging insults. The still hot mir
Of the tropic dawn was vibrant With
the Cantonese monosyllables tossed
back and forth like tennis balls over
the low sand rampant, The thing was
degeucratlng into a farce the Bcrtha's
Cinnamon would not fight
Back there. Ladcr the shelter Of the
schooner, it was MI very well to talk,
ana they had been very brave when
they had all flung themselves upon
Hoang. Here, face to face with the
enemy, the sun striking off Photograph
flashes from their knives ana spades,
1t was 4 vastly different matter. The
thing, TO Wilbur's mind, should have
been done suddenly IL it was to be
done Mt AL. The best course now was
TO return to camp ana try some other
plan. Charlie shouted a direction to
him in pigeon English that he did not
understand, but he answered AN
right" and moved forward another
step so as TO be in line with the cody
at his left
The liquor that he hid drunk before
starting began suddenly to affect him
yet he knew that his head was yet
clear. lie could not bring himself tc
run away before them all, but he
would have given much TO have dis
'NN'ANN a. S'NtA lAtlNbtH lb4 i'DNN IIbA3lilE
the fight, if fight there was to be.
He remembered the cooked revolver
in his hand and. suddenly raising it.
fired point blank at his man, not ff-
teen feet away. The hammer snapped
on the nipple, but the cartridge did not
explode. Wilbur turned TO the China
man next him in line, exclaiming ex-
ctcdly:
Here, say, have you got a knife
something | can light with? This gun
Is no good"
There was a shout from Moran:
Look out! Here they comew
Two Of the bcachcombcrs suddenly
sprHng over the "a nd breastworks and
ran toward Charlie, their knives held
low IN front Of them, ready TO rip.
"Shoot. Shoot! Shoot" shouted Mo
ran rapidly.
Wilburs revolver was n self cocker.
lie raised it again, drawing hard on
the trigger as he did so. II roared and
leaped in his hand. and Il Whit of
burned powder came to his nostrils.
Then Wilbur was astonshed TO hear
himself shout at the top of his voice.
Come on now. get into them-get
into them now. everybody
The Bcrtha's Cinnamon were all run
ming forward. three of them well in
advance of the others. In the rear
Charlie was at grapples with beach
comber who fought with a knife in
each hand. and Wilbur had sudden
glimpse Of another sitting on the sand
with his hand TO his mouth, the blood
squirting between his fingers.
Wilbur suddenly realized that he
held a knife and that he was directly
abreast the sand rampant. How he got
the knife he could not tell, though
he .afterward distinctly remembered
throwing away his revolver. loaded as
ii WAS. lie had leaped the breast
works he knew that-and between
him and the vast bright blur of the
ocean be saw one of the beachcombers
backing away and watching him in
tently, his latehet in his hand. Wilbur
had only time TO think that he himself
would 30 doubt be killed within the
ueSt few moments when this latter
halted abruptly. took a step forward
and. Instead Of striking downward. as
Wilbur had anticipated. dropped upon
his knee and struck with all his might
at the calf Of Wilbur's leg. II was only
the thickness of his boots that saved
Wilh1r from being famsfrlnr wLero