Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-08-09
CRATER XIV.

X ed beating, and every vestige
Of color left his face. Clear
| - and distinct in the light from
the yacht the Arab and his burden
were outlined against the black
| screen beyond. There was no mistak-
ing the earnestness of the threat, nor
could the witnesses doubt the ghastly
intention of the long, cruel knife that
cleaned on high. Peggy's body serv-
i ed as shield for that Of her captor
Brewster and Bragdon recognized the
man as one of Mohammed's principal
retainers, a fierce looking fellow who
had attracted more than usual atten-
ton on the day Of the sheik's visit
For Gods sake, don't kill her,
cried Brewster in agonized tones
There was a diabolical grin on the
face of the Arab, who was about to
shout back some defiant taunt when
the unexpected happened.
The sharp crack of a gun sounded
in the stern Of Brewsters boat. and
an unerring bullet sped straight for
the big Arabs forehead 1t crashed
between his eyes and death must have
been instantaneous. The knife few
from his hand, his body Strengthened
and then collapsed, topping over. not
among the oarsmen, but across the
gunwale of the craft. Before Il hand
| could be lifted to prevent, the dead
Arab and the girl were plunged into
the sea
cry Of horror Went up from the
Americans ami something surprising
!V like Il Shog;t of triumph from lhe alb
dHctorS. Even as Brewster poised for
the spring into the water Il flying form
shot past him and into the sea With d
rcso"rdi!i@ splash. The man that fred
he Sl:1t had rcci> i>.:ned clevCrly and he
VIZ .':{riy ing oist the final details Of AN
;tircd pttn. Tie Arabs position as
= stood il the boat Was such as to
,,:..'.tIt the sailors belief that he
'.,uid fall ITO other way than forward.
..Ei that meant over the side of the
;9at. With all this Clearly in nill
;!e bad sho, straight ;ln.l true and was
:il hi; WY 10 the water almost as the
two TOPPED overheard.
A"niy i'eW>.er was IN the water an
i! tunt II lie'.. Striking out for the spot
..t." oA"y lad disappeared, a little to
;hc i' It of the coarse in which his
tp.;; WAS runuing. There WAS Il rattle
II firearms. With curses and cheers
lii lie paid no heed to these sounds
IT., was :; !pugtli or two behind the
,;lar. rr..;5ng with all his soul tina
.,ne or Tie other might succeed i'll
rc,. hing the white robes that Still kept
Ii" .nrfacc Of tn" water. His crew
-, "aas .>.lIg v:j:&l'" and strahing
..~,.;i f. the ,"sG.!e.
The g., TORS powerful strokes brought
IN to tie scot first, but not in time
:, clutch TIE disappearing white robes.
tst - lie reached oEt an arm to grasp
he fovla Of The "rl she went down.
tie did not heSi::' g Il second. but fol
!o"eN. Peggy hid fallen from the
cad Arab embrace. and that worthy
t!rv;ldy was at the bottom of the sea
she WAS h&if conscious when the shot
anne. lut the plunge into tie cold WA
jrr revived! hel' Her struggles wcrc
ar@s:gh to iSeH1 hcr up for Il few n1o-
mrnts. h"t ~ il"g enough for the
SWIMMERS y reach her site. She irit
herself going down and down. Stran-
Cling, snojhering. dying; then some
thing v:snjile rlatrhed hei' arm. and
ehe had the sensation of being jerkes!
nl.ward yi0lently.
The sailor fought his way to the sur
face With the girl. and Brewster was
a his Size in an instant. Together they
supported ler until one of the boats
,ame up. and they We're drawn oeci
Ne side to safety. Ry this time t'.H
l}jl,fctorS had scalttrti like shUeji
without a leader, and as there was IL
,'urth"r Object ia pursuing them the
title .>Mcyican feet pat back for the
"cht in : 'C.;t haste. liCtegy was u5.ite
'!'.cious when e.srried ;ti,oard ly the
'Ha'Dhaat Brewster The words he
whispered to her :,s she lay in the bot
.onl of the boat We're enough to give
nnr life
The excitement on board the Filter
was boundless. Fear gave way to 10y.
and where despair had for moment
reigned supreme there was now the
most insane delight. Peggy was bun
died below and into her berth, DR.. Lot-
less attending her. Brewster and the
sailor We're carried to place where hot
toddies We're to be had before blankets.
"You have returned the favor. Con
roy" said Brewster fervently as he
leaned across the heads Of his bearers
to shake haDds with the sailor who was
sharing the honors with him. Conroy
was grinnng from ear to ear as he sat
perched on the shoulders of his ship
mates. Il was luckier than I thought
in saving your life that day"
1T wasn't anything. Mr.. Brewster"
said young Conroy. Il saw chance
to drop the big nigger, and then it was
up to me to get her out of the water
You took a big risk, Conroy, but you
made good with it. If it had not been
for you, my boy, they might have got
away with Miss Gray"