The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-03-01

heel into the pit of Dennison's stom-
ach, thereby effectually eliminating
him as a factor in the further contro-
versy. simultaneously he advanced
upon Captain Hole.
But in the latter he encountered no
mean antagonist. The man-it has
been said-was as tall as and heavier
than the adventurer, and by virtue of
his position competent and expert
enced rough-and-ready fighter. In
breath he had lowered his head and
believing like a bull, launched him.
self toward O'Rourke.
The Irishman met the onslaught
with singing uppercut; which, new
ertheless, failed to discourage the
captain, who grappled 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 it defeated Holes own purpose
O'Rourke 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
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. ORourke fought with
trained precision; his blows, lightning
quick, were direct from the shoulder
and very finely placed; and SO straight
did he strike that almost from the
| 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
|
with the Pelican. Moreover he had
shrewd suspicion that Hole was up
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; good
clean dive, cutting the water with
hardly a splash, he went down like an
arrow, gradually swerving from the
straight line of his flight into long
| arc-so long, indeed, that he was
well-nigh breathless when he came to
the surface, a dozen yards or more
from the Pelican.
Splitting out the foul harbor water,
and with swift glance over his shout
der that showed him the Pelican's
dark freeboard like a wall, and
cluster of dark shapes hanging over
the rail at the top vaguely revealed
by lantern light, he struck out for the
nearest vessel, employing the double
overland stroke, noisy but speedy.
That he heard no cry when he came
to the surface, that Hole had not de-
tected him by the phosphorescence,
and that he had held his hand from
firing, at first puzzled O'Rourke; but
he reasoned that Hole probably feared
to raise an alarm and thereby attract
much undesirable attention to himself
and his ship. In the course of the first
few strokes. however he managed to
peep again over his shoulder, and from
the activity on the Pelicans decks
concluded that he was to be pursued
by boat; which, in fact, proved to be
the case.
Fortunately the Pelican rode at an
Choir IN waters studded thick with
other vessels, affording plenty of hid
ing places on night as black as that
The adventurer made direct for the
first vessel swan completely around
1t, and by the time the Pelican's boat
was afloat and its rowers bending to
the oars, he was supporting himself by
a hand upon the unknown ships cable.
floating on his back with only his face
out of water.
Under these conditions, It was
,, small wonder that the boat missed him
SO completely.
At length rested, the Irishman re.
leased his hold and struck out for
land at an easy pace.
Eventually he gained the end of a
quay, upon which he drew himself for
a last rest and to let his dripping gar.
ments drain bit ere venturing abroad
in the streets.
Not until then, strangely enough,
did 1t come to him with its full force,
how he had been tricked and played
upon from the very beginning. And he
swore bitterly when he contemplated
his present position of penniless