The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-10-06
CHAPTER xII.-cOntlnued.

'Lay your hands on me again." /
threatened, sternly, "and I'll floor you
to the deck. I'll take that grin off
your face, De Nova, If you attempt
any interference with me now"
He understood quickly enough what
/ meant, and evidently had no relish
for attacking me alone, for with one
swift, searching glance into the fog,
he leaped down the steps and ran
hastily aft. l knew he was seeking
the backing of Tuttle, and armed my
self with Delaying pin, peering Gag
erly meanwhile for the nearby sail,
and cursing the fellow at the wheel
for not holding her up to the point
directed They came up together, two
steps at a time, Tuttle in his shirt
sleeves, and, as they attained the
bridge, Bill Anderson swung himself
out of the hatch and started after
them. I backed away. the ugly iron
pin grasped in my hand.
You'd better keep back" warned,
threateningly. I'm ready to brain
the first man who attempts to touch
me-"
Tuttle stopped, his jaw working saw
agely, his eyes on mine.
"Will you promise to keep quiet, sir,
an let us get away out O this?"
Damn you, moi" stubbornly, all my
senses leaving me at sight of his hate
full face. "I'll speak that ship yonder
if 1 have to fight the crew of you
single-handed."
"Then fight, you cockerel, an be
damned to you!" roared Anderson;
and he pressed past the two of them
and sprang at me.
It was hot, swift work, while it
lasted. | struck twice, laying open the
big brute's scalp, and dropping him
so his head hung dangling down over
the deck, his body huddled against the
rail. ] aimed to do as well by Tut
tie, but the descending pin landed on
his uplifted arm, and, before l could
draw back for another blow, the fel-
low at the wheel released the spokes
and jumped at my back, throttling me
with his hands as the weight of his
body crushed me to the planks. Grasp
ing the rail / half tore myself loose,
rising to one knee, and struck him
twice madly in the face; but others
of the crew came tumbling on top Of
us, pinning me helplessly down. 1t
was all the work Of a breathless mo-
ment, and as / lay there, the knee of
a negro crunching into my chest, saw
De Nova spring to the wheel and
whirl it hard down. while Tuttle, his
left arm dangling, his teeth set from
pain, began jangling the bells in the
engine-room. Scarcely had the echo
reached us when a strange voice hailed
sharply from out the dense fog:
steamer, ahoy! What vessel is
tnat?"
Tuttle's nasal voice answered:
Steam yacht Cormorant, Panama
to Easter island, for pleasure. Who
are your"
III M. S. Victory, on cruise. Stand
by, while we send boat"
A deep oath sprang to Tuttle's lips,
his fingers convulsively gripping the
rail. Then he appeared to rally, the
very intensity of his fear making a
new man out Of him.
Lively, lads, clear the deck" he
commanded, harshly. Here, one of
you take the wheel. Now, De Nova,
bundle that fighting fool down into the
charthouse, and stand over him with
a gun. Two of you fellows carry the
boatswain into the fo'castle; lively,
now"
They were certainly expeditions
Anough in my case, dragging me bump
Ag down the steps, and flinging me in
4 attween table. and bench with vio-
II Wee that made me groan. caught
~ gIimmer of steel barrel in De
us hand as he drew close the
Ng door.
was not nice sing to do, Mons. Ste
~ Y he said, not ill-naturedly, "but, |
q out re farsity row it was 60
ibe done, for shoot re pistol |
Nd"
A all right, De Nova" | re-
slizing my complete defeat |
tng no personal grudge
Il don't blame you. I've
Gay. and have had enough.
hiG?"
lcarelessly dropping the |
n into his Jacket pocket,
Nblaok eyes fastened
Nay to talk, monsieur
p 70 the mingled |