The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-03-04


Back before the fire, two men fought,
back to back. One was Neal and one
the mate. They fought like tigers
for a moment, but not more. Twenty
to one the man-eaters hurled them
selves upon two white men and bore
them, senseless, to the ground.
The Brute meanwhile, was gazing
wildly all about him-looking for his
master and looking in vain. Suddenly,
he of all men, saw the exit of Her
nandez-saw him steal away. At first
he may have been impelled to follow
for he started off. But a close OBJ
server might have noted an expression
Of relief cross his countenance, for he
sank back once more upon his seat
and watched the fight.
He even laughed-to him it seemed
like new game. A fight was childs
play to the Brute. But when the un-
conscious forms of Neal and the mate
were borne away, he seemed alarmed.
He started once more to his feet.
"Eye-yah," cried the chief to his fol-
lowers, "the white god hungers. On
with the feast"
Once more the bearers seized An
nette-still dashed firmly to the pole.
Then for the first time the Brute real
lied that something was wrong-that
here was horror
He darted into the midst of the war
riors and swung his arms
"No-no," he cried.
But the mere word of a god could
never stop them now. They were hun
gry-they had fought for spoils and
the spoils were theirs. They Shout
dered him aside, and went on
They didn't get far. The Brute was
fresh-he had been resting. With one
fell swoop he once more charged upon
them, and tore them-broke them with
his hands, broke their backs across his
knees-cracked their skulls with a
single blow. He swept them all before
him, carrying the fight across the
clearing. He seized one of the long
poles and moved them down like
grain.
He was more than one man-he was
ten. But he was only ten-no
Meantime, Meals captors, deter
mined on little private vengeance,
had trussed him up, or tried to. But
that tough young man, having partial
ly revived, permitted his captors-
there were but two-to go just so far.
Then he came to life, and applied the
gentle art of jiu jitsu to each of them
in turn. It was effective-and bone
breaking.
Then Neal saw-and his heart
leaped. Annette for the moment was
deserted. The fight was centered on
the Brute. Neal sprang to Annette,
and with deft fingers loosed her bonds.
He lifted her gently to his shoulder
and started off.
He was too late. For the fight with
the Brute was over. For one instant
the Brute had left open a vulnerable
point-his defense had failed. With
mighty swung of mighty war club,
one of his antagonists dealt him
swinging, deadly blow upon the head.
The Brute fell like log.
Then somebody saw Neal and An.
Like q tidal wave, the whole crowd
surged back to their fair victim.
Neal, surrounded, dropped Annette
to the ground and held his hands high
in air.
God help us-help u.s." he cried in
desperate need.
At that moment there was ringing
volley of rifle shots. A dozen savages
fell dead. The rest turned to face
another foe-a new kind. Out of the
bushes sprang a squad of marines from
the Missouri. They had landed in re-
Spouse to Meals wireless. They had
struck the trail. They had arrived
just in the nick of time.
"Pick your man." cried Neal, fire
ah."
With wild shout the savage crew
turned and fled-fled in vain, each pur-
sued by a man in uniform, each out
matched by one man.
And when the squad had finished,
there was no village-and no villagers.
Neal saluted the officer in charge,
and apologized. wasn't my business
to give orders, sir" he smiled, "but II
you'd been in my place. {. ."
The officer saluted in his turn.
Don't worry, son." he said, you'll be
in my place if you keep on fighting
like that-you'll keep going up-and
up"
Neal revived Annette-no very diff
cult task, for Annette Ilington had
inherited from some source remark
able strength and endurance and won.
derful nerve. He found his mother
still insensible, but suffering only; from
the shock.
Its a good thing" Annette whis-
pered to him, that she didn't see 1t
ALL"
Neal clenched his hands. TITS .
bad thing any Of szsaw It," he ex-
claimed, somebody's got to pay for
this-somebody's got to pay"
=, With Annette clinging to him he
strobe over to group Of seamen who
clustered about an object on the
ground. The lieutenant was bending
over the Brute.
"He still lives" said the lieutenant,
he may pull Throughout, that's not
saying much"
T Annette kneeled down by the figure
of the Brute. "He must nve," she
murmured, hes saved my life-not
onoo hrf m onv f1maa - ..-