The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-21

into the midst of the rest who flung themselves upon
him with vigor and velocity that taxed his swimming
powers the One animal seized him just for
of his dorsa fin and his pointed teeth deep in
the flesh He struggled franticay to get clear but he
only did after the teeth tore away the piece OF him
they held for the whale would not relax its grip 1t
a grsy wound and it warmed the fighters heart
He felt the pain and swung about, striking and cutting
with his sword in perfect fury He drove his weapon
again and again into the body of one and managed to
back clear The whale to the surface and rolled
his side, swimming feeby Another met the point of
the weapon with his uke and it cut the tendon that
the fin useless He dred out of the conflict while
the two remaining animals stood their ground only long
enough get taste of the deadly point before plung
ing away seward leaving thin, smoky track in the
blue water with the blood from their wounds. Then the
knight used his weapon the wounded and their suf
ferings were at end. He still master of the
shoa
During the next week or two he lay most of the time
quietly upon surface in the sunshine, for his wound
was severe week of heavy easterly weather followed
and he kept off the land following the edge of the
wall and seldom coming the surface. He be-
coming restless and the desire farther
taking possession of his faculties Then day fell
wore he became of two swordfsh approaching
from the eastward
The pair came slowly in upon the bank One
female of good proportions and the other, her
panion, a powerful fellow large himself
Something within him caused Discrimination toward
the big fish, and he began to prepare for fracas The
female he felt drawn to- and the more he felt this the
greater was his anger toward the big fellow. He would
not attack the female in fact all the ferocty he would
Usually have expended upon two foemen he
cenrated upon the the big male, who came along
uneoncernedly though he had rights the knight
bound to respect Instead, however of making direct
assault without warning, he slowly toward the
pair and met them the edge of the blue water He
would inspect the couple and he did his spleen at
the stranger became and more pronounced, until
for foe He circled around the pair and jabbed the
big one ruthlessy with the point of his sword just
enough to prick him and incite ll-feeling Then he
gave great sweep swung around in great circle and
lay waiting head on for the fray which the stranger
now saw was Forthcoming. The big fellow annoyed
at the scratch from the knights weapon and lost
time in preliinares. He fighter, fighter,
and he neither asked sought for for the af
fair 1t sufficient for him that he had been olested
while in peaceful pursuit of happiness with his female
companion and the entire ferceness of his disposition
ared up at the stranger who seemed to dispute his
right to live.
For an instant the monsters lay facing each other
upon the calm Then, if starting at the signal
of a herald the fighters plunged forward full speed
their swords aimed at each other and muscle and
tendon strained the utmost drive them ahead in the
mighty charge.
The two swordsmen, rather swordfsh, met point
point but such the velocity of their charge that
they rushing past each other, their weapons str
ing each other fairly enough upon their heads the long
taperng turning the blows and causing the points
glance off, But the sharp edges deeply and each
bore nasty wound. Turning at once under full head
way they again at each other and again their
pointed heads made the strokes slide ragged cuts
Then before they could gather way enough get clear
they abbed and struck close quarters stabbng and
cutting in amazing manner. The sea was foaming
circle about them dyed with their blood the whteness
of the suds taking that deep purplng look which tells
of the quantity of red mixed with it. Their struggle
rapid, vigorous and sustained that the eye
could not follow their Only whirng Of
broken water with here and there fash Of their bodies
showing through told of the battle taking place in the
Now and then sword in the air to fall again
Once the Knight of the Shoal flung himself clear of the
to fall sword downward toward the back of his
enemy, but the stranger quick and sprang from
under just in time to prevent being transhxed- The
female lay upon the watching the of the
affair and appeared little concerned which
vanquished To the victor she belonged, and the
vval of the est seemed to satisfy her choice in natural
selection. With him she would CO. go to the fartest