The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-12-31

determined to have my scalp, and I'm
hanged If can see how to protect my
self without taking leaf out Of their
books. What I'm most afraid OF il
that some time ! may forget it's a
woman I'm defending myself against
When fellows fighting for his very
life he can't always stop to calculate
the weight of his blows"
The young man sighed, shook his
head, laughed uncertainty, and held
ner closer to him. Don't fear; n
find some way out without injurins
either of them. promise you that!"
He sealed the pledge upon her lips.
And in that moment of their obliv'
ion to the world from some point for
ward a muffled crash sounded stimuli
taneously with the dull shock Of a
collision with smaller vessel, and a
strange voice cried out with an &C
cent Of high exultation.
Before either Alan or the girl could
disengage the decks rang loud with
rush Of booted feet pounding aft.
The figures Of the boarding party
we're already taking shape through the
fog as Alan sprang toward the COM
panionway to fetch the rifle. And In
this action his feet slipped on planks
greasy with moisture deposited by the
surcharged atmosphere. He went down
with a stumbling thump, and an in
slant later two men fell bodily upon
him-active, strong fellows in the
dress Of fishermen. He was suffered
to rise only as a prisoner, helpless in
the grasp Of two pairs Of powerful
hands.
He saw Barcus, rudely reused and
still dumb with sleepy confusion, in
no better case-jerked to his feet and
held captive by two more fishermen.
A fifth had taken charge Of Rose,
clamping her wrists in the wise OF
one big hand.
The sixth and sole other member Of
the boarding party, likewise in the
rough-and-ready garb Of . fisherman,
was Judith Trine.
Down the side heavy life-boat
ground its way astern. the loose end
Of its painter slipping over the rail
even ae Alan caught sight Of 1t. $50
1t seemed Barcus had guessed shrewd.
ly!)
Observing this, one Of the men in
charge of Alan made as II to leave
him to the other, addressing Judith
for permission to prevent the loss Of
the lifeboat. She stopped him with
peremptory gesture.
"No-let 1t go. We're better OF
without 1t. Hold that man fast till
I fetch rope. Well make sure Of
them both this time!"
Straining forward In the grasp Of
her guard, Rose implored her sister:
judith, in PHYS name. think what
you are doing!"
Hold your tongue!" Judith snapped
viciously. Another whimper out Of
you, and I'll have you gagged"
The balance Of her threat, though
accompanied by the exhibition Of an
automatic pistol. was drowned out BY
the sudden roar Of a steamship fog.
signal. 30 close aboard that it seemed
almost to emanate from the forepart
Of the schooner herself.
As 1t was answered by shrill and
hoarse cries Of terror or Of warning
from q dozen Threats. Alan found him
self released, his captors leapins for
their lives to the taffrail.
He caught an instantaneous glimpse
Of the knife-like bow of q great steam.
er towering above the two.master-
toward 1t at q speed which
raised smart Jet Of white under the
Someone aboard the schooner, with
the voice Of a stentor, beloved q ter.
rified appeal:
"stop your engines! Shut of your
propeller! Stop your"
Then, like the wrath Of God, tho
steamship overwhelmed the lesser
ship; its bow seemed to slice through
the schooner % q knife through
cheese. And the two halves were fairly
driven under water by the frightful
force of the blow.
Thunders deafening him. Alan was
hurled bodily through the air fully
twenty feet.
When he came up he struck out at
random. blindly tormented by the
vision of Rose caught In the suck OF
that gigantic wheel, drawn under
crushed and mangled by the propeller
Of the vast black hulk whose flank was
sliding past. like the face Of q clih,
ten yards behind his shoulders.
Aware Of several dark objects dot
ting the surface within radius OF
several yards, he swan for the near
est; the head was q woman's, the face
turned toward him, the face of Rose.
He gasped wildly: Keep cool! DOM
struggle! Put one hand on my shout
der and"
What happened then was never quite
clear to him; he only knew that he
was forced to fight for his very life