Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-06-21

soon. Down the ~passageway. already.
he could hear some n creeping
stealthily. II was the Chinaman with
his m~urderous knife She heard him
pause 1T the door as he looked again
At his knife. Then the lock turned.
The door creaked But she had
propped the chair we'll. and " held.
Just then she heard a loud report
outside. and an instant later another.
Then followed the crash OF something
heavy on the deck above accompanied
BY a volley OF vile Oaths and quick
footsteps. as Gregor gave hasty orders
TO his crew.
The Chinaman az the door ~redoubled
his efforts. He seized q FIRE ax hang
ing hear by and attacked the door
with that. hacking ~tCriously.
One after another. the table. a chest.
rything movable. Elaine piled up
against the door as II splintered. But
II was Of no use.
She moved over fearfully a. far away
as she could to the portfolio and looked
at the black water. as she leaned far
out. then up al the deck only a few
feet above her.
With frantic strength born OF fear
the heroic girl wriggled out OF the port
hole. as the schooner heeled over and
managed just TO catch the scuppers
Of the deck. Fear lent her strength.
She succeeded In pulling herself up To
the rail and then over on the deck
just as the piled-up furniture tumbled
nwn~ m - 49,. a. um wv. wumW
The Chinaman. Infatuated. caught
Just a glimpse of her through the port
hole, turned inc rushed for the stair
way.
In the commotion Elaine had actual
~ come over the rail unobseryed But
she knew that she could not be that
way long. There was Just a chAnce
that a white man might heed her ap-
peal. %Forbiddins though he was even
in the moonlight, Elaine started to-
ward Gregor.
Just then the maddened face OF the
Chinaman appeared at the hatch. A
moment later his 1.-THE body wormed
itself out on deck As he came near
er. Elaine retreated further toward
Gregor.
oh. sir" she pleaded. save me, I
have lone nothing
Gregor. ID eye on the approaching
revenue cutter. the other on his ship
and crew. had not seen her I'LL then.
Get out or the way he gTOwled
roughly. pushing her aside. Save
yourself"
The Chinaman came a step nearer.
knife appraised. She fed along the
deck. There In the shrOuds was a lad
der. In desperation she seized n rung.
swung herself around. and started w.
Her relentless pursuer followed.
hand over hand. clenching the knife
in his teeth. In her terror she tore
of a piece OF spar that had been loos-
ened BY a shot from the cutter and
threw Il full In his face.
Still. on he came. She drew herself
up. There was no escape. A moment
she trembled aloft.
Then, from a crosstree. she jumped.
diving far out into the water. The
Chinaman followed.
Hand over hand he churned the
waves after her
We were now nearing a low, rakish
craft. Though we signaled II. they
paid no attention. Instead. We could
hear the c~hug-chug OF an auxiliary gas
engine.
Brainard sent a shot across the
schooner's bow Still she did not stop.
Instead. the tOpsails broke out In
spite OF the gale and she headed away
faster.
Another shot flashed out from our
gun. This time a spar was carried
away. as the s%earchlight playing on
the schooner clearly showed.
We were rapidly gaining row..
"Brainard-stop hring-for heavens
sake shouted Craig from the bow.
Look"
We followed his finger as he peered
forward tensely.
There In the rigging. hanging peril
ously. was Elaine. She was clinging
there holding a Chinaman at bay.
Suddenly We saw her draw herself
up and deliberately dive into the ve-
ter. The Chinaman dived also. Hand
over hand he went after her. We
watched. speechless.
Kennedy turned and seized the rapid
fire gun. whirllng IL around and aim
ing carefully.
The Chinaman was a powerful xim-
mer and was rapidly gaining on
Elaine. We could even see the CLEAN
Of the knife In the searchlight Care
fully Craig sighted the gun. The mis-.
take OF a hairs breadth meant life or
death.
He fired.
Not a minute too soon the shot
r~icochetted over the waves. The
Chinamans arms went up In mute sur
render. His head sank below the sur
face OF the water.
Instantly. Craig and I were leaning
Tar over the side OF the cutter as. with
power OF. b slipped along. close to
that figure swimming In the cold. black
water. Neither OF US paid any atten-
linn n Eragnr'a frantic af~..l. "a .-