The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-02-19


pected. and IL was over and done |
with between the ticks of two sec
onds. He had sprung fully six
feet across the deck and driven
his fist into the others stomach. |
Al the same moment, as though | |
had been struck myself, l felt a
sickening shock I'm the pit OF my
stomach. | instance this to show
the sensitiveness of my nervous
organization at the time. and how
unused ! was TO spectacles of bru-
tally. The cabin-boy-and he
weighed one hundred and sixty
five at the very least-crumpled
up. His body wrapped Imply
about the fist like a wet rag about
stick. He lifted into the air,
described short curve, and
struck the deck alongside the
corpse on his head and shoulders,
where he lay and writhed about
In agony.
"Well?" Larsen asked of me-.
Have you made up your mind?"
l had glanced occasionally at
the approaching schooner, and Il
was now almost abreast of us and
not more than couple of hun
dred yards away. IL was very
trim and neat little craft. l could
see large, black number on one
OF Its sails. and had seen pic
lures of pilot-boats.
What vessel is that" l asked.
The pilot-boat Lady Nine"
Wolf Larsen answered grimly.
Got rid of her pilots and running
into San Srancisco. She'll be
there In five or six hours with
this wind"
"Will you please signal II. then,
80 that may be put ashore?"
Sorry, but I've lost the signal
book overheard" he remarked,
and the group of hunters grinned.
! l debated moment, looking
him squarely in the eyes. ! had
seen the fightful treatment of the
cabin-boy, and knew that ] should
very probably receive the same.
II not worse. AS say, ! debated
with myself. and then | did what
consider the bravest act of my
life. ran to the side, waving
my arms and shouting:
| Lady Mine ahoy! Take me
ashore! A thousand dollars ifsyou
take me ashore!" x -
waited, watching two men
| who stood by the wheel, one of
them steering. The other was
lifting megaphone to his lips. |
did not turn my head, though
expected every moment a killing
blow from the human brute be-
hind me. At last, AFTER what
seemed centuries, unable longer
to stand the strain, / looked
around. He had not moved. He
was standing in the same posi-
ton, swaying easily to the roll of
the ship and lighting a fresh
cigar
What is the matter? Anything
| wrong"
This was the cry from the Lady
Mine.
"Yes!" l shouted, at the top OF
| my lungs. life or death! One
thousand dollars II you take me
ashore!"
TOO much Frisco tanglefoot
for the health of my crew. Wolf
Larsen shouted after. This one"
indicating me with his thumb,
-"fancies sea-serpents and mon
keys Just now!"
The man on the Lady Mine
laughed back through the mega
phone. The pilot-boat plunged
past.
) "Give him hell for me-" came |
final cry, and the two men
waved their arms in farewell.
! leaned despairingly over the
rail, watching the trim little
schooner swiftly increasing the
bleak sweep of ocean between us.
And she would probably be in San |
Francisco in five or six hours! |
My head seemed bursting. There |
was an ache in my throat as
though my heart were up i'm it.
A curling wave struck the side
and splashed salt spray on my
lips. The wind puffed strongly,
and the Ghost heeled far over,
burying the lee rail. could hear
the water rushing down upon the
deck.
When ] turned around, a mo-
ment later, / saw the cabin-boy
staggering to his feet. His face
was CHASTITY white, twitching with
suppressed pain. He. looked very
sick.
well, Leach, are you going
for'ard?" Wolf Larsen asked.
Eyes, SIR" came the answer of
a spirit cowed.
And your" I was asked.
"Ill give you thousand" !
began, but was interrupted.
% STOW that! Are you going to
take up your duties as cabin-boy?
Or do l have to take you in
hand?"
What was to do? To be bru-
tally beaten, to be killed perhaps,
you'd not help my case. l look
ed steadily into the cruel gray
eyes. They might have been gran
ite for all the light and warmth |
of a human soul they contained.
,04fe may see the soul stir in some |
mems eyes, but his we're bleak,
md cold, and gray as the sea it
seh.
yes" said.
Say, yes, SIR"