Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-23

the men paused. and then the steam
ship whistle interrupted opportunity.
with deafening blast.
The dozen men who had been sling
ing freight on the dock. FASTENED up
the gang-plank or climbed the tenders
while the signal-man chung to the llr.-
ing tackle, and, at the piping cry OF MS
whistle, was swung aloft tout OF the
very arms Of the rioters.
Above. on the flying bridge. Captain
Peasley was believing orders: quar-
termaster was running up the iron
steps to the pilot house; on deck the
sailors were fighting their way 70
their posts through the ranks OF the
raging fishermen and the shrieking
confusion of the orientals; the last
men aboard, with a 'Heave Ho!" III
unison, slid the gang-plank upward ana
out Of reach The neighboring ROOTS,
lately SO black, we're emptying now,
the onlookers fastening to join IN the
attack.
Big George alone remained upon the
wharf. AS he saw the rush coming ne
had ordered his men to abandon their
load; then he ran to the after-mooring,
and, taking slack from deck hand,
cast it of. Back up the dock he Went
to the forward hawser, where. at q
signal, he did the same. moving, to-
ward the last, without excessive hurry,
as If in a spirit Of bravado. The snip
was clear, and he had not cut nav
ser. He had done his work: all but Q
ton or two of the cargo was slowed.
There was no longer cause for delay.
Get aboard! Are you mad?" Emer.
son shouted, but the cry never reached
him. Back he came slowly, in front OF
the press, secure in his tremendous
strength, defiance in his every move. q
smouldering challenge in his eyes;
and noting that gigantic frame with It's
square-hewn, flaming face, not one OF
his enemies dared oppose him. But as
he passed they yapped and snaried ana
iostled at his heels. hungry to reno
him and only lacking courage.
AS yet the ship, although throbbing
to the first pulsations of her engines,
lay snug along the ptling, but grad
ually her stern swung OF and wedge
of clearance showed. Almost imper-
ceptibly she drew back and rubbed
against the timbers. A fender began to
squeeze and complain. The dock plank
ing creaked. Sixty seconds more and
she would be out Of arms reach, and
still George made no haste Again
Boyd shouted at him, and with one
farewell glover over his shoulder the
big fellow mounted a pile, stretched
his arms upward to the bulwarks, and
swung himself lightly aboard.
Even yet Emerson's anxiety was OF
the keenest; for, Notwithstanding the
stress of these dragging moments, ne
! had net forgotten Fraser, the vaga
bond, che morally twisted rascal, to
whose courage and resourcefulness ne
owed so much. He strained his eyes
for a glimpse Of the fellow. al
the same time dreading the sight
Of a uniform. Would the shiI
never get under way and out
OF mailing distance? II those officers
had discovered their mistake, theJ
might yet have time to stop him. HI
vowed desperately that he would no
let them, not II he had to take tn
Bedford Castle to sea with q gun q
the back OF her helmsman. He made
his way hurriedly to the bridge, where
he hastily explained to Captain Peas
ley his evasion Of the officers; and
here he found Cherry. her face flushed
her eyes sparkling with excitement
but far too wise to speak to him In his
present state OF mind.
A scattered shower Of missiles came
aboard as the strikers kept pace witt
the steamer to the end Of the slip, ex
citing the fishermen, who had AGAR
mounted the rigging, to similar
frenzy. Oaths, insults, and jeers were
hurled back and forth; but as the big
steamer gathered momentum and slid
out OF her berth, they grew gradually
more indistinct, until at last they be
came muffled, broken. and meaning
less. Even then the rival ranks con
tinued to volley profanely at each
other, while the captain, with hand or
the histle-rope, blew haunting blasts;
nor did the fishermen descend from
their perches until the forms of the
dock had blurred together and the city
lay massed in the distance, tier upoI
tier, against the gorgeous sky.
CHAPTER XIX.
l.