The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-05

Wilbur thrust his foot sharply 10r3cord.
smoke filed all the air. The cabin vas
atire. The hatchet man with whom
Wilbur was lighting had been backing
in this direction, lie was close ID
when the fire began TO leap from the
one window. Now lie could 60 no far
ther. He turned to run sideways be-
tween his enemy and the burning cab.
in. Wilbur thrust his foot sharply for
ward. The beachconber TIPPED, stag.
gcrcd. and before he had reached the
ground Wilbur had driven home the
knife.
Then suddenly, at The sight Of his
smitten enemy rolling on the ground ut
his feet, the primitive man, the half
brute Of the stone age, leaped to life in
Wilbur's breast. He felt his muscles
thrilling with n strength they had not
known before. His nerves, stretched
tense as harp strings, were vibrating TO
new tune. His blood spun through
his veins ill his ears roared with the
rush of it. Never had he conceived of
such savage cXutation as that which
mastered him ut that instant The
knowledge that he could kill filed him
with sense of power that was yerita-
bly, royal lie felt physically larger
1t was the joy of battle. the horrid eX-
hilaration Of killing, the animal OF the
race, the human brute suddenly aroused
and dominating every instinct and ira
dition of centuries Of civilization. The
fight still was going forward.
Wilbur could hear the sounds of it,
though from where he stood all sight
was shut off by the smoke Of the burn
inc house. AS he turned about, knife
in hand. debating what next he should
do, figure burst down upon him.
snadowy and distorted through the
haze
1t was Moran, but Moran as Wilbur
had never seen her before. Her eyes
were blazing under her thick frown
like fire under a bush. Her arms were
barred to the elbow. her heavy ropes
of hair flying and coiling from her in
al directions. while with voice hoarse
from shouting she sang, or, rather
chanted in her long forgotten Morse
tongue. fragments of old sagas, words
and sentences meaningless even TO her
self. The Jury of battle had exalted
her to a sort of frenzy. She was be-
side herself with excitement Once
more she had lapsed back TO the vi
kings ana sea roycrs of the tenth cen.
fury; she was Brunehild again. a shield
maiden, Yalkyrie. a berserker and the
daughter OF bcrserkefs, and, like them,
she fought in a veritable frenzy, see
ing nothing. hearing nothing, every
sense exalted, every force doubled. in
sensible 70 pain. deaf TO all reason.
Her dirk uplifted, she rushed upon
Wilbur, never once pausing in her
chant Wilbur shouted a warning to
her as she came on, puzzled beyond
words, startled back 70 a consciousness
Of himself again by this insensate at
tack.
"Moranl Moran" he called what
IS ~ You're wrong! It's /. It's VII
bur. your mate, Can't you see"
Moran cOuld not see Blind to friend
or foe. rs she was deaf to reason, she
struck ut him with all the strength OF
her arm. But there was no skill in her
fighting now. Wilbur dropped his own
knife and gripped her right wrist. She
closed with him upon the instant,
clutching at his throat with her one
free hand. and rs be felt her strength.
doubled ant tripled in the fury Of her
madness. Wilbur knew that. however
easily be lad overcome his enemy OF
a moment before. he was now fighting
fop his very life.
la Ill e.