The Spectator., 1915-01-01

Wltnln, ne could Stlll near HlllS VOlc6 shouting directions which, however, were unintelligible to his distracted at- tention. Somewhere near by, Beau Jeans string of rough oaths roared upon the turmoil, and Lovejoy began yelping for the police. At this latter cry there was a slight wavering among their unknown assailants, but it was quickly meHded by a new onrush.
 The men who had been working at the ship now left their tasks and joined the fracas on general prin- ciples, siding with neither party, but laying about them with vigor and splendid lack of discrimination. But 1t was already quite fierce struggle, and Pedro very soon began to find 1t diff cult to keep his feet. The man with whom he was confronted had an over whelming advantage in height and weight, while Pedro was slight and soft, and. truth to tell, rather badly frightened. If only he could manage to keep the fellow from knocking him out till Beau-Jean and Lovejoy man. aged to win. or the police arrived But what If he should fail?
 It seemed as though they had an army against them, though as mat ter of fact, there were not more than ten in all. Twice he with difficulty suppressed the temptation to call upon his friends for help, and with sobbing indrawn breath fought on wildly, elu- sively, striving desperately to prevent his opponent from grappling with him. A solitary policeman Ca night rounds man) had come up. Pedro could hear him shouting above the din. but his efforts at establishing order were ab- solutely intellectual.
 By now Pedro was fast losing strength. It seemed to him that at any instant he must succumb, and sink to the ground. Only a horror of being trampled on sustained him, and his head was growing light. Then his an- tagonist, who was bent upon his in- jury or capture, infuriated at being held off so long by this mere slip of boy, managed to get leg hold upon Pedro. It was too much, and the boys courage gave way.
 "Au soucceur!" he screamed. "A moi, Beau-Jean! Au soucceur!"
 Then somehow, he never quite knew in what manner. the giant was beside him. and the black menacing shape of the other man hurled through space and landed among his fellows, scatter ing the fighters for an instant Then Hills voice arose again, and this time, Pedro, leaning breathless and panting against the house, heard and under stood.
 "Open the window" Hill was yell ing. its fastened from the outside Open the window!"
 With aching arms, Pedro strove to obey, but the heavy iron bar that held the galvanized shutters closed, re- sisted his effort Beau-Jean, mean while, was veritable windmill, ans one of the stevedores had ranged him. self beside the Frenchman, feeling, no doubt, that it was desirable to fight with, rather than against, this power full person.
 "Open the window" yelled Hill ceaselessly. Pedro bent all his strength to another effort, and at the same mo- ment there came to his ears the rap ping of the lone policeman's club upon the pavement, a signal that was not wholly without effect upon the entire crowd. Again the heavy iron bar of the shutter lifted an inch or two, and again it slipped back into its socket. Then some one struck him upon the shoulder and turning to defend him. self. he looked up into the fat dripping face of MT Lovejoy.
 God bless mel" puffed that worthy, that was a near thing! Thought you was the enemy!" Pedro managed to gasp:
 "The shutter-bar! Help mel"
 In the twinkling of an eye the heavy iron lath had been extracted and was being brandished over the lunch-wag- oner's head. a deadly weapon that swept a space clear about the window, which now burst open to emit the dis neNeleu lurlOuS uBure ol SdHluel f1lll, who was armed with an improvised cudgel, evidently the leg of table taken from the furnishings of his prison.
 United we stand!" he shouted, springing into the fight with relish. Then came a cry that was echoed on all sides.
 "The reserves, the reserves, the po- Heel" and the crowd began to scatter.
 Almost as magically as they had been surrounded. they were left alone, but now. to be so left was fraught with almost as many dangers as had beset them a moment sooner; for that the police should not lay hands upon them was the paramount thought in the minds of all. Hill was the first to act
 This way!" he called, darting of toward an ill-lighted. ill-paved street, nanked only by poster-covered fences.
 By great good luck the rescue party managed to escape pursuit, and in less