Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-04-28

You will please stay on deck. Miss
Brewster" Wolf Larsen said. as he
started forward to meet his guest
And you. too. Mr. Van Weyden."
The boat had lowered its sail and
run alongside. The hunter, golden
| bearded like soaking, came over the
rail and dropped on deck. He glanced
from Wolf Larsen to me. noted that
there was only the pair Of us. and then
glanced over his own two men who
had Joined him. Surely he had little
reason to be afraid. He lowered like
a Goliath above Wolf Larsen. At the
top of the companionway he treasured
himself with a glance down at his host
and the pair descended into the cabin.
In the meantime, his two men, as was
the wont of visiting sailors. had gone
forward into the forecastle to do some
visiting themselves.
Suddenly. from the cabin came
great, choking below. followed by all
the sounds of furious struggle. 1t
was the leopard and the lion, and the
lion made all the noise Wolf Larsen
was the leopard.
You see the sacredness Of our hos
pitality," said bitterly, to Maud
| Brewster.
She nodded her head that she heard.
and | noted in her face the signs OF
the same sickness at sight or sound OF
violent struggle from which had suf-
fered so severely during my first
weeks on the Ghost.
The sounds from below soon died
away. Then Wolf Larsen came alone
on deck. There was a slight flush I'M
der his bronze. but otherwise he bore
no signs of the battle.
Send those two men aft. Mr.. Van
Weyden," he said.
| obeyed, and a minute or two later
they stood before him.
Hoist in your boat" he said to
them. Your hunters decided to stay
aboard awhile and doesn't want 1t
pounding alongside"
Hoist in your boat. said." he re-
peated, this time in sharper tones as
they hesitated to do his bidding.
who knows? You may have to sail
with me for a time" he said. quite
softly. with a silken threat that belied
the softness, as they moved slowly to
comply, land we might as we'll start
with friendly understanding. Lively
now! Death Larsen makes you jump
better than that. and you know it,"
Their movements perceptibly quick
ened under his coaching. and as the
boat swung inboard was sent forward
to let go the jbs. Wolf Larsen. at
the wheel, directed the Ghost after
the Macedonia's second weather boat
Under way. and with nothing for the
time being to do. turned my atten-
ton to the situation of the boats. The
Macedonia's third weather boat was
being attacked by two of ours. the
fourth by our remaining three; and
the fifth. turn about. was taking a
hand in the defense Of its nearest
mate. The fight had opened at long
distance, and the rifles were cracking
steadily. A quick. snappy sea was be-
ing kicked up by the wind, condition
which prevented fine shooting; and
now and again. as we drew closer, we
could see the bullets zip-zipping from
wave to wave.
The boat we were pursuing had
squared away and was running before
the wind to escape us. and. in the
course Of its fight, to take part In re-
pulsing our general boat attack.
Attending to sheets and tacks now
left me little time to see what was
taking place. but happened to be on
the poop when Wolf Larsen ordered
the two strange sailors forward and
into the forecastle. They went sui
lenly, but they went. He next ordered
Miss Brewster below. and smiled at
the instant horror that leapt into her
eyes.
You'll find nothing gruesome down
there" he said. "only an unhurt man
securely made fast to the ring-bolts.
Bullets are liable to come aboard. and
l don't want you killed. you know"
Even as he spoke, bullet was de-
fected by a brass-capped spoke Of the
wheel between his hands and
screeched off through the air to wind
ward.
You see," he said to her; and then
to me, Mr.. Van Weyden. will you
take the wheel?"
Maud Brewster had stepped inside
the companionway so that only her
head was exposed. Wolf Larsen had
procured a rife and was throwing a
cartridge into the barrel. begged
her with my eyes to go below. but she
smiled and said:
I'VE may be feeble land-creatures
without legs. but we can show Captain
Larsen that we are at least as brave
as he."
He gave her a quick look of ad-
miration.
Il like you hundred per cent better
for that" he said. Books. and brains.
and bravery. You are well-rounded. a
blue-stocking fit to be the wife of a
pirate chief Ahem. we'll discuss that
later" he smiled. as a bullet struck
solidly into the cabin wall.
saw his eyes fash golden as he
spoke, and l saw the terror mount in
her own.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)
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