Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-06-09

wrist ! held leaped from my hand,
and the hand clasped like . steel
about my wrist. I cried aloud in aw.
full fear. Wild inarticulate cry; and
] caught one glimpse OF his faca. ma
iignant and triumphant. as his other
hand comprised my body and l was
drawn down to him In q terrible grip.
My wrist was released. but his other
arm. passed around my back. held
both my arms 90 that I could not
move. His free hand went to my throat
and In that moment knew the bitter
est foretaste Of death earned by ones
owD idiocy.
My face was against his chest and
could not see. but l heard Maud turn
and run swiftly along the deck. Ev-
erything was happening quickly. I
had not yet had q glimmering of un-
consciousness. and 1t seemed that an
interminable period of time was laps
ing before heard her feet flying
back. And Just then felt the whole
man sink under me.
Maud's footsteps were very near az
his hand huttered for the last time
and my throat was released. rolled
on and over to the deck on my back.
gasping and blinking in the sunshine.
Maud was pale but composed-my
eyes had gone instantly to her face
and she was looking at me with min
gled alarm and relief. A heavy seal
club In her hand caught my eyes. and
at that moment she followed my gaze
down to 1t. The club dropped from
her hand as though 1t had suddenly
stung her. and at the same moment
my heart surged with a great Joy.
Truly she was my woman, my mate
woman, fighting with me and for me
as the mate of a caveman would have
fought, all the primitive in her
aroused. forgetful OF her culture, hard
under the softening civilization of the
only life she had ever known.
Dear woman!" l cried. scrambling
to my feet.
The next moment she was in my
arms. weeping convulsively on my
shoulder while clasped her close
looked down at the brown glory of her
hair, glinting gems in the sunshine far
more precious to me than those in
the treasure chests of kings. And l
bent my head and kissed her hair
softly, so softly that she did not know.
Then sober thought came to me.
After all. she was only a woman. cry.
ing her relief. now that the danger
was past, in the arms of her protector
or of the one who had been endan-
gered. Had l been father or brother.
the situation would have been in no
wise different. Besides, time and
place were not meet. and wished to
earn better right to declare my love.
So once again softly kissed her hair
as felt her receding from my clasp.
1T was a real attack this time." l
said; another shock like the one that
made him blind. He feigned at first,
and in doing so brought it on"
Maud was. already rearranging his
pillow.
NO" l said. mot yet. Now that
have him helpless, helpless he shall
From this day we live in the
cabin. Wolf Larsen shall live in the |
steerage"
caught him under the shoulders |
and dragged him to the companion.
way. At my direction Maud fetched
a rope. Placing this under his shout. |
ders. balanced him across the |
threshold and lowered him down the |
steps to the floor. could not lift him |
directly into bunk. but with Maud's |
help l lifted first his shoulders and |
head, then his body. balanced him
across the edge and rolled him into a
lower bunk.
But this was not to be all. recol.
Iected the handouts in his stateroom,
which he preferred to use on sailors
instead of the ancient and clumsy
ship irons. So. when we left him, he
lay handcuffed hand and foot. For
the first time in many days I breathed
freely. l felt strangely light as I
came on deck, as though a weight had
been lifted from my shoulders. felt.
also. that Maud and had drawn more
closely together. And l wondered IL
she, too. felt it, as we walked along
he deck side by side to where the
stalled foremost hung in the shears.