The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-04-19

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mean antagopst. The man-it has
been said-@as as tall as and heavier
than the adventurer, and by virtue of
his position competent and expert
enced rough-and-ready fighter. In a
breath he had lowered his head and,
believing like a bull, launched him
self toward ORourke.
The lrishman met the onslaught
with a singing uppercut: which. new
ertheless, failed to discourage the
captain, who grappled and began to
beiabor O'Rourke with short stabbing
same time endeavoring to trip him.
The fury Of his onset all but carried
the freshman off his feet. At the same
Time 1t defeated Holes own purpose.
0sRourke watched his chance, seized
the mans throat with both hands and,
tightening his grip, fairly lifted him
on his feet and shook him as a ter
| rier shakes 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 hjndnripu L., AL
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
did he strike that almost from the
first his knuckles were torn and
bleeding 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.
4 jeans 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
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 flight into a 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 a
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 Pelican's decka
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 will
other vessels, affording plenty of hid
ing places on night as black as that
The adventurer made direct for the
first vessel. swan completely arounC
it, and by the time the Pelican's boa
was afioat and its rowers bending {,
the oars. he was supporting himself b,
a hand upon the unknown ships cable
floating on his back with only Ills fac,
out OF water.
| ,hNVi thNoO COHuIliOHS, IL WA
small wonder that the boat missed hin
so completely.
At length rested, the freshman re
leased his hold and struck out TO
land at an easy pace.
| Eventually he gained the end OF /;
quay. upon which he drew himself TO
a last rest and to let his dripping gar
ments drain bit ere venturlng abroad
In the streets.
Not until then. strangely enough
did II come to him with its full force
how he had been tricked and played
upon from the very beginning. And hi
swore bitterly when he contemplated
his present position of a pennies.
outcast in a city almost wholly strange
to him, without friends (save indeed
Danny-whereve he might bel, with
out place to lay his head, lacking
J even a change of clothing. His kit
box was aboard the Pelican and likel,
to remain there, for all he could de
to the contrary; in his present state