The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-02-17
CHAPTER xvi-contlnued.

Tnero were TOUR OF inc crew, De-
sides e.captain, all armed with rifles
TO which ;bayonets had been affixed by
the generals order. Add to these
Smulders, the general himself. Hardy
and three Bouriats, and the defending
party consisted of IL members. Brave
Stenfa Pugacheff of the crew had
gone down the river for help, and the
attack had been delivered so sudden
ly that there was no time to call Ro-
MANOR, who was sleeping below. In
deed, it is doubtful II. at that moment
of extreme excitement, anybody
thought of him.
The Chinese were receiving a muir
derous and unlooked-for reception, but
they we're not to be easily beaten of.
Several Of them gained the deck and
began to swing their clumsy, two
handed swords, and the clash of steel
on steel rang out amid savage grunts,
snaris and cries OF rage. The Cossack
crew and the Bouriats fought like dew
ils. leaping and darting about with the
agility of wildcats and handling their
more modern weapons with murder
Gus dexterity and skill.
A man never knows what sort Of
man he is still a supreme trial comes
to him. The American found himself
cool. His faculties we're all at a
state of EXTREMIST tension, with the
result that ne could see and hear bet.
ter. think faster and decide more
quickly than in ordinary moments.
He took his revolver from his pocket
and ran lightly toward a Manchurian
who was Just throwing one leg over
the rail. He fred at the head of the
man. who fell back into the water with
loud splash. dropping his sword on
the deck. Another leaped over the
rail almost at his side, and, swinging
his great steel blade high in the air,
chopped at Hardy's head. The latter
threw up his rife and received the |
blow on the barrel. The impact |
brought him to his knees, but, as he |
sank. he shot his assailant beneath |
the chin. killing him instantly.
At this moment a blazing arrow |
passed over him and stuck in one of
the cotton-stuffed pillows that had been |
used as a barricade. Hardy snatched |
the pillow, threw 1t overheard and |
ran to the downstream side of the |
boat. The attack OF the boarders had |
not lasted In all over four or five
minutes. and yet in that time several
6f the wading party had approached |
nearer. The moon gave
sufficient light for him to see the
ufn 10 Df Ill IL
form Of the Chinese made conspicuous
marks in the cleaning water. This
was not over two or three inches deep
on the sand in which the prov of the
boat was imbedded and two of the
Chinese were running close in. Hardy
killed them both with his rife and
then began to shot deliberately at
such effect that he put the entire
party 60 flight ere the ten remaining
shots in his weapon we're exhausted.
He turned to re-enter the melee just
In time to see Boris Romanoff burst
raging on deck. wrench a two-handed
sword from tho fingers OF dead Chin
nese and ply IL with as much ease and
Shiii do tuONBn IL were llBHlebL Oh
rapiers. The attackers were gaining
ground. Enough OF them had come
over the side to defend a portion of
he rail, over which others were rapid
y scrambling, while several of their
number were keeping the defending
party so busy that they could not use
heir guns to shoot them down; which.
indeed, they would not have been
likely to do, in any case, as Cossacks
and Bouriats are primitive fighters
who do not think of shooting when
brought to close quarters. Boris Ro-
nanoff charged with such deadly skill
hat the bqarders leaped over the
tide. back into the water. leaving two I
If their number dead. The other
1rigands followed their comrades,
With the exception of one, who was
,ayoneted in the back just as he
the rife-barrel, striking the
all made a fulcrun Of 1t, so that the {
Weapon was, wrenched from the own
'r's hands.
And now a thing happened that made
Hardy glad that he had not taken
Boris Romanoff's hand. One Of the
chinese was not dead, but had been
TUNED by blow On the head with
'ols. He sat I'D and looked about {