The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-09-17
CHAPTER XIV.
A STRUGGLE UNDERGROUND,


l remained poised, breathless, hud-
died in the dark, hesitating. A dozen
considerations flashed through my
mind, as swiftly decided what to do.
l could scarcely hope to move back
ward without noise; nor, if succeed
ed, would be any better off with him
still blocking the passage? There was
nothing for it then but to come to hand
grips. But the fellow, whoever he
might be-whether white or Indian
was doubtless armed, while was
weaponless. To get him right was a
desperate chance, yet chance which
must be taken. Fortunately l had him
located, his heavy breathing being I'M
mistakable, and evidence also that the
man remained unaware OF my pres
ence. l shifted one foot forward to
get firmer purchase, and then grasped
for him through the darkness. My
hand came in contact with shoulder;
then gripped a mass of long hair. He
gave vent to sudden cry. startled, al
most inhuman in it's wildness, strug-
Cling backward so quickly my other
hand closed on air. But held hard to
what l had, dragged off my balance,
feeling his fingers after my throat.
There was no room for us to do other
wise than claw at each other. After
that first cry neither of us uttered a
sound, but closed in on him, getting a
stronger grip. He was a man, a white
man, for he wore rough coat, and his
race was covered with growth of
straggly, coarse whiskers. Enemy or
friend could not be sure, nor did l
find opportunity to discover. We both
fought like beasts, resorting to teeth
and nails. He was seemingly not a
large man, but wiry and muscular His
very lack of size was an advantage in
that narrow space; besides was
weakened by loss of blood, and with
every movement my wound hurt.
His one object was to wrench him.
self loose, but my fortunate grip on
his hair foiled this effort. Yet both
his hands were free, the one clutching
my throat; but, in those first breath
less seconds, I could not locate the
other. He was lying on his side, with
right arm underneath. Fearful of
weapon, let the fellow gouge at my
throat with long ape-like fingers,
while l struggled fiercely to expose the
hidden hand. If it proved empty l
knew could handle the man; that I
possessed the strength to draw him to
me, to crush him into subsection with
in the wise of my arms. Straining
every muscle l could bring into play,
l succeeded in forcing him over onto
his face. But he was cat, wiry, full
of tricks. In some manner he twirled
his arm out of my grip. There was a
fash of reddish yellow flame soaring
across my eyes, an awful report, like
an explosion in my stunned ears.
Where the bullet went l will never
know, but I saw the mans face leap
out at me from the darkness-just an
instant Of reflection, as though thrown
against screen by some fash of light
the unmistakable face of a negro.
And his was hideous visage; the
memory of 1t fingers with me yet.
Swift as it appeared and vanished in
that burst Of flame, l shall never for
get the glare of the mans eyes, the
malignant snarl Of the open lips, the
teeth cruel and snag-like, and the vel
lowish-black OF his face. It was as If
held some foul fiend Of hell in my grip.
Yet startled as was by this appari-
ton, his view of me had no less an ef-
feet. Even in that single instant of
revealment, the hate in his eyes
changed to fear, to uncomfortable
panic; his lips gave vent to a wild cry,
an exclamation in mongrel French,
and, before could stiffen in resistance,
or recover from my own shock, the fel-
low flung his pistol at me. and Jerked
tree. The Tying weapon tore q cash