The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-10-07

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to escape them both, she plunged over
the side. II seemed eternity to Quab-
ba and voyage to the gates of death
to the strangling girl ere her head
came to the surface. She instinctively
clutched the rail of the rowboat, and
Quabba drew her in. He headed the
boat straight for the beach, for he saw
the sailing master on the wharf stairs,
bringing back the crew from their
shore leave to the waiting launch. To
Quabba all who are strangers are enc
mics, and he headed in straight line
FOR the beach and the breaking surf,
q half mile away.
On the deck the struggle between
Blair and Luke is one of vicious feroc-
lty, in which the clothing of both is
torn. Both JOY in the battle, and the
few half drunken sailors aboard, tum-
bling out from the forecastle, are wild
with excitement and delight at tine
splendid smashing scrap between the
burly, heavy built Luke and the 1.-THE
and active Blair
Hey, Bill" cries one of the sailors,
its two old friends with grudge for
sure."
81 should worry. 1t amt my float
ing palace they are mussing up!' ex-
claims the other mariner. And he
spoke truly in one sense for like mad
dened beasts the two pen tore at each
other, and the snowy deck of the yacht
was stained with blood, which flowed
profusely from both combatants.
Against the paneled mahogany of the
cabin side the fighters crashed smash
ing and splintering glass arI wood
work. And then. In sheer tearing rage
combining all their strength to dash
each other to insensibility and death
they plunged from the smashed cabin
side at the center to the stanchion
rail. At the heavy impact Of the two
strong bodies flung against It the rail
bent outward and the stanchions snap
ped like pipestems, and the two men,
locked in death grips, went over the
side and into the water, kicking,
thrusting, cursing.
In the water, more active, Blair loos-
ened hold and dived under. Coming
TO the surface. he waited for the gyp-
sy's head to appear, and when Luke
rose to the surface, bubbling and gasp.
ing for breath, Blair struck him a
smashing blow between the eyes and
swan to the companionway Half
stunned and half strangled, Luke
screamed in inarticulate insanity of
rage and hate. Then through his dull
mind came realization that Blair, as
friend of the owner of the yacht and
as "a gentleman" would have the aid
and assistance of the sailors.
Leaving the matter for another day
to settle, for Luke was of a nature
that loved to nurse and cherish his
enmity, the gypsy turned and swan
strongly and doggedly to the shore.
Blair, painting, water soaked and
disheveled, leaned over the rope rail
ing Of the companionway and looked
after Luke, also with that respect one
good fighting man has for the other.
Hurt, sirW sailor asked.
"Only little scratched" said Blair
cold sea water had checked the bleed
ing of his wounds.
THE poor fellow must have gone
roaring mad" added Blair in explana
ton. I'VE had been lost In the woods
for some days, and he must have go
hold of some whisky and have gon,
clean crazy, for the first thing | knew
he sprang upon me, fighting like a mac
dog"
1t was this same explanation In eX
tension that Blair made to the sailing
master when the latter returned to thu
launch with the sailors from thei
shore leave, for the two sailors left IL
the forecastle had not seen or know
of Esthers boarding the yacht II
search of Arthur or her wild leap iron
II when faced by Blair and Luke. No
had the sailing master, mastering hi
men at the end of the street leading
TO the wharf at the time of Esther
leap, known of her presence aboar'
the yacht. The sailing master hat
seen the rowboat with Ouabba ant
Esther headed straight for the beach
but the rowboat was too far away 10
even keen sailor eyes to note that tn
girl was wet and weak.
! II have heard OF sailors getting homi
cidal d. u.s." said the sailing master
"but never knew a landsman TO &c
'em that quick"
The two sailors who had witnessed IN
titan combat grinned, for 1t had been
bout to delight the eye But just the
, the sailing master gave n sudden cry,
Look az that fool What is he dc
: ing-trying to commit suicide" An
;; the master pointed to the beach. wher
the rowboat, with the tired, unskile
. hands of Quabba on the oars, was M
gotiating the surf.
"Shall We lower boat, STRIP aske
) one of the sailors. There was We
! man spilled from the boat with tina
awkward landlubber"
,,,aakn. .hala1 htu aua