The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-19
CHAPTER XI
(Continued)

IL was wonderfully QUICK D1t OF
work. and, taking the gunner by
surprise, seemed to daze him. He
went flying backwards, his huge
arms swinging in the air, till the
bulwarks brought him up with a
crash. AS he clattered clumsily to
the deck, the blood spurted freely
from his nose.
l was about to step forward TO
interfere, when the captain laid his
hand on my arm, and with loon
cautioned a policy of non-interven-
ton. 1t was the first inkling l nau
that all was not well between the
captain and his gunner. My hopes
leapt freshly. There was undreamt-
of possibility in that look.
Hayling here turned and gravely
saluted the captain.
I'm sorry, sir" he began.
Never mind that now. Take care
of yourself
Gupp here arose, presenting a
most unpleasant sight. Very for
midable he looked, and very
vicious. All the bad blood in him
bCIhS ct lCNCi HOut, Az ioohCu
straight at Hayling. swearing hide
ously the while. But the second
mate, who on occasion could curse
bit himself, was not 10 be daunt-
ed by a furious explosion of ex-
pletives, nor cowed by passion.
however hideously distorted He
Immediately threw himself into po-
sition, and as Gupp rushed In at
him he suddenly shot out his long
left arm, and in twingling the
gunner was staggering back almos
as quickly as he had come. For
Haylings long left had struck him
somewhere above the eyes. and for
the moment Mr.. Gupp could not
have been sure if his skull still
retained it's roof
When he advanced again 1t was
much more cautiously. An ugr
smile played round the lower part
of Hayling's mouth. Eacn showed
his love for the other in truly
horrible fashion. They had been
longing for such an opportunity
at least, I knew Hayllng had-and
now it had come.
Then almost before one seemed
to realize what was happening, the
two men closed, and a most fero-
cious bout of punching ensued.
The way they slugged each other
was something awful to witness,
and for the life OF me I could not
tell who was getting the better of
the engagement until, falling on the
deck, the men seemed to break Of
speed almost incredible in two sue.
big men, they were on their feet
again in an instant. Scarcely stay
ing to breathe, they flew at each
other, or, rather, it was Hayling
who attacked this time. Gupp at
once gave way, and Hayling, fol-
lowing him up. teat him SO unmer-
cifully that he soon had the big
fellow stretched helpless. on the
deck.
BY this time quite a considerable
crowd had assembled, and while
some began to murmur threatening
ly at the second mate, others took
up the gunner and carried him
below.
at was fair fight, lads" cried
Capt. Macshiel, "and the best man
won"
Turning round. I saw the girl
standing by the companion. Her
face was horribly white, and she
looked so like fainting that I ran
across to her.
81 thought you were below"
81 couldn't stay couldn't
stay" she gasped.
"Then you have seem"
"All"; and her head dropped for
ward and her lips quivered.
"Well, well, let me take you be-
low now. You look as though you
were going to faint"
But I'm not" she said firmly.
81 never tainted in my life. It's
horrible, that's all. Tell Mr.. Hay
ling to come here"
| Immediately called to him, for
he, seeing with whom l was speak
ing, had begun to sneak forward in
q way that did not become such a
worthy knight. But my voice cut
short his retreat, and, seeing me
beckon, he approached awkwardly,
as if ashamed Of himself, surepti-
ously wiping the blood from his
face.