The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-05-03

eneed rough -and-ready fighter. In
breath he had lowered his head and.
believing like a bull. launched him
self toward O'Rourke.
The Iifshman met the onslaught
with a singing uppercut; which. new
ertheless. failed to discourage the
captain. who grapped and began to
belabor O'Rourke with short. stabbing
blows on the side of the head, at the
same time endeavoring to trip him
The fury of his onset all but carried
the Irishman off his feet. At the same
time 1t defeated Holes own purpose.
ORourke watched his chance, seized
the mans throat with both hands and,
tightening his grip, fairly lifted him
off his feet and shook him as a ter
rier shakes a rat Then. with a grunt
of satisfaction, he threw the captain
from him and turned to face greater
odds.
The noise of the conflict had brought
the crew down upon the contestants.
Surrounded, he was rushed to the rail.
With that to his back he drew on his
reserve Of strength and. posing him
self, began to give his assailants per
sonal and individual attention. They
pushed him close. snarling and ours
ing, hindering one another in their
eagerness, and suffering variously for
their temerity O'Rourke fought with
trained precision; his blows, lightning
quick. were direct from the shoulder
] and very finely placed; and so straight
- NrgI oIv
first his knuckles were torn and
, bleding from their impact upon flesh
and bone.
Fight as fiercely as he might. how
| ever, the pack was too heavy for him;
and when presently he discerned. not
in one but in half a dozen hands,
> CLEANS Of light-the rays Of nearby
: lantern running down knife-blades-
he conceded the moment imminent
when he must sever his connection
with the Pelican. Moreover he had a
shrewd suspicion that Hole was up
5 and only waiting for an opening to use
his revolver.
= Leaping to the rail, he poised an
instant then dived far out from the
, vessels side. down into the Stygian
: blackness of the harbor water; a good
clean dive, cutting the water with
hardly splash, he went down like an
= arrow. gradually swerving from the
straight line of his fight into a long
i arc-so long. indeed, that he was
well-nigh breathless when he came tC
the surface, a dozen yards or more
from the Pelican.
4 Splitting out the foul harbor water
a and with swift glance over his shoul
4 der that showed him the Pelicant
4 dark freeboard like a WALL and |
y cluster of dark shapes hanging owe
s the rail at the top vaguely revealed
j by lantern light, he struck out for thu
y nearest vessel, employing the double
| overland stroke, noisy but speedy.
! That he heard no cry when he cam,
Z to the surface, that Hole had not de
tected him by the phosphorescence
I and that he had held his hand from
n firing, at first puzzled O'Rourke; blu
! he reasoned that Hole probably feare,
I to raise an alarm and thereby attrac
4 much undesirable attention to himsel
and his ship. In the course of the frs
n few strokes, however, he managed t
u peep again over his shoulder. and fror
a the activity on the Pelican's deck
q concluded that he was to be pursue
a by boat which, in fact, proved to
II the case.
4 Fortunately the Pelican rode at al
"A Choir in waters studded thick wit
n other vessels. affording plenty of hiC
Il ing places on a night as black as tina
q The adventurer made direct for tn
j first vessel. swan completely aroun
a it, and by the time the Pelicans bos
a was afloat and its rowers bending I
b the oars. he was supporting himself b
4 hand upon the unknown ships cabl
Fl floating on his back with only his fac
n out of water.
Il Under these conditions, It Wa
! small wonder that the boat missed hi
so completely.
J At length rested, the Irishman r
leased his hold and struck out Il
land at an easy pace.
Eventually he gained the end Of
quay, upon which he drew himself +,
a last rest and to let his dripping ga
ments drain a bit ere venturing abroi
"a. in the streets.
vo Not until then. strangely enoug
his did 1t come to him with its full fore
no how he had been tricked and play
upon from the very beginning. And
,Ao swore bitterly when he contemplate
80 his present position of a pennlle
~. outcast in a city almost wholly stran
"a to him, without friends (save indee
~ DannY-Wherever he might bel, vii