The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-03-27

Here We may reign secure; and
In my choice
To reign is worth ambition
though In hell:
BETTER to reign In hell than serve
In heaven
II was the defiant cry of a
mighty spirit. The cabin still
rang with his voice, as he stood
there, swaying. his bronzed face
shining, his head up and domi.
nant. and his eyes, golden and
masculine. intensely masculine
and insistently soft, flashing up-
on Maud at the door.
Again that. unnamable and un-
mistakable terror was In her eyes,
and she said. almost in a whisper.
You are Lucifer.'
The door closed and she was
gone. He stood staring after her
Tor a minute then returned TO
himself and 10 me.
III relieve Louis at the
wheel" he said shortly. land
call upon you to relieve at mid
night. Better turn In now and
get some sleep"
He pulled on a pair of mittens.
put on his cap, and assembled the
companions stairs, while | follow ed
his suggestion by going to bed.
For some unknown reason,
prompted mysteriously, l did not
undress, but lay down fully
clothed. For a time I listened 10
the clamor In the steerage and
marveled upon the love which had
come to me; but my sleep on the
Ghost had become most healthful
and natural. and soon the songs
and cries died away, my eyes
closed, and my consciousness
sank down into the half-death OF
slumber.
knew not what had aroused
me. but l found myself out OF my
bunk, on my feet, wide awake,
my soul vibrating to the warning
OF danger as II might have thrill
cd to a trumpet call. threw open
the door. The cabin light was
burning low. / saw Maud, my
Maud, straining and struggling
and crushed in the embrace of
Wolf Larsen's arms. could see
the vain beat and flutter of her
as she strove, pressing her face
against his breast, to escape from
him. All this ! saw on the very
instant Of seeing and as ] sprang
forward.
struck him with my fist, on
the face, as he raised his head,
but 1t was puny blow. He reared
In a ferocious, animal-like way,
and gave me a shove with his
hand. II was only q shove, q
flirt of the wrist, yet so tremen-
dous was his strength that | was
hurled backward as from cata-
putt. / struck the door of the
state-room which had formerly
been Mugridge's, splintering and
smashing the panels with the i'm
pact of my body. l struggled to
my feet, with difficulty drag
ging myself clear Of the wrecked
door, unaware of any hurt what
ever. | was conscious only of an
overmastering rage. l think J.,
too, cried aloud, as drew the
knife at my hip and sprang for
ward second time.
But something had happened.
They were Keeling apart. ] was
close upon him, my knife uplift-
ed, but withheld the blow. !
was puzzled by the strangeness of
1t. Maud was leaning against the
wall, one hand out for support;
but he was staggering, his left
hand pressed against his fore
head and covering his eyes, and
with the right he was cropping
about him in a dazed sort of way.
II struck against the wall, and his
body seemed to express muscu-
lar and physical relief at the con-
tact, as though he had found his
bearings, his location in space as
we'll as something against which
to lean.
Then saw red again. All my
wrongs and humiliations flashed
upon me with dazzling bright
ness, all that l had suffered and
others had suffered at his hands,
all the enormity of the mans very
existence. / sprang upon him,
blindly, insanely, and drove the
knife into his shoulder. / knew,
then, that It was no more than a
flesh wound,--I had felt the steel
crate on his shoulder-blade, and
raised the knife to strike at
more vital part.
But Maud had seen my first
blow, and she cried, Don't!
Please don't!"
l dropped my arm for a mo-
ment, and a moment only. Again
the knife was raised, and Wolf
Larsen would have surely died
had she not stepped between.
Her arms we're around me, her
hair was brushing my face. My
pulse rushed up in an unwonted
manner, yet my rage mounted
with it. She looked me bravely
In the eyes.
For my sake" she begged.
II would kill him for your
sake," ! cried, trying to free my
arm without hurting her.
"Hush!" she said, and laid her
fingers lightly on my lips. !
could have kissed them, had
dared. even then. in my rage. the