Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-26

ing and falling Unfortunately and then
the whole back of the cave seemed to rise
and come at u.s.
This was no chance of sport now but
struggle for very life. We realized that
once down there would be no hope for
while the seals were more anxious to es-
cape than to fight, we knew that their jaws
were powerful There was no time to pick
and choose. We hit out with all the
strength and quickness we possessed. II
was like bad dream, like struggling with
an elusive hydra-headed monster, knee HIGH
invulnerable. We hit. but without apparent
effect. New heads rose, the press behind in
creased. We gave ground. We staggered
struggling desperately to keep our feet
seemed hours. know my arms became
leaden from swinging my club; my eyes
were full OF sweat; my breath gasped. A
sharp pain in my knee nearly doubled me
to the ground and yet l remember clamp
ing to the thought that must keep my feet
keep my feet at any cost. T. en- all at once
l recalled the fact that 1 was armed.
jerked out the short-barreled Colts As and
turned 1t loose in their faces.
Whether the flash and defamation fright
ened them: whether Perdosa, still clinging
to his rock. managed to turn their attention
by his thanking efforts. or whether. quite
simply, the wall of dead finally turned
them back, do not know, but with one &C.
cord they gave over the attempt.
l looked at once for Handy Solomon and
was surprised to see him still alive. stand
Ing upright Oil d leuSS the olNcI sue vi the
herd. His clothing literally torn to
threads and he was covered with blood
But in this plight he was not alone. for
when l turned toward my companions they,
too, were tattered, torn and CORY. We were
a dreadful crew, standing there in the half
light, our chests heaving, our rags dripping
red.
For perhaps ten seconds no one moved
Then with yell Of demoniac rage my
companions clambered over the rampant of
dead seals and attacked the herd.
The seals were now cowed and defense
less 1t was a slaughter and the most de-
bauchng and brutal have ever known.
had hit out with the rest when 1t had been
question of defense, but from this
turned aside in sick loathins. The men
seemed possessed of devils and of their
natural energy. PerGosa cast aside the club
and took to his natural weapon, the knife.
can see him yet rolling over and over en-
bracing big COW, mis- head jammed in an
ecstacy Of ferocity between the animals
front fiippers, his legs clasped to hold her
body, only his right arm rising and falling
as he plunged his knife again and again.
She struggled. turning him over and under,
wept great tears and fairly whined with
terror and pain. Finally she still, and
Perdosa staggered to his feet, only to stare
about him drunkenly for a moment before
throwing himself with screech on another
victim
The Niger alone did not jump into the
turmoil He stood just down the cave, his
club ready Occasionally a disorganized
rush to escape would be made. The Mig
gers lips snared and with a truly mad en-
toyment he beat the poor animals back.
I pressed against the wall Mortified, fas-
cinated. unable either to interfere or to
leave. A close, sticky smell took possess
sion of the air. After a little a tiny
stream. growing each moment. began to
flow past my feet 1t sought its channel
daintily, as streamlets do, feeling among
the stones in eddies, quiet pools. miniature
falls and rapids. For the moment l did not
realize what it could be- Then the light
caught it down where lie Niger waited
and I saw it was red
At first the racket of the seals was over
towering. Now, gradually. 1t was losing
volume l began to hear the blasphemies,
ferocious cries. screams of anger hurled
against the cave walls by the men. The
thick. sticky smell grew stronger the light
seemed to grow DINNER. as though it could
not burn in that fetid air. A seal came and
looked up at me, big tears rolling from her
eyes; then she flippered aimlessly away.
out of her poor wits with terror. The sight
finished me. I staggered down the length
of the black tunnel to the boat.
Go be Continued Tomorrow