Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-27
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AT THE suggestion every head turned to-
"A ward the trail down which the two
panic-striclen men had come At the same
below and the Ave looked down TO see a
scene Of wild activity upon the beach.
The detection Of Theriere's party had
been discovered, as we'll as the absence Of
the girl and the theft of the provisions.
Skipper Simms was dancing about like a
madman, His beloved oaths rolled up the
cliffs like thunder.
Presently Ward caught a glimpse Of the
men at the top of the cliff above him.
There they are !" he cried.
Skipper Simms looked up.
The swabs 20 he shrleked. "a stealin'
OF our grub an abductin of that there pore
Girl. The swabs Lemme to 'em, 1 say
Just lemme to em !"
wed all better go to EN-" said Ward.
~weve got fight on here. sure. Gather
up some rocks, men, an come along. Skip
per. you're too fat to do any fightln' on that
there hillside, so you better stay here an
let one o. the men take your gun"
Ward knew 30 we'll the mettle Of his SUI
perlor that he much preferred his absence
TO his presence in the face Of real fighting.
With the gun in the hands of a braver man
II would be vastly more effective
Ward himself was no lover of fight,
but he saw now that starvation might stare
evervthing be lost with the loss Of the girl
For food and money much more cowardy
man than Bender Ward would fight to the
death.
Up the face of the cliff they hurried, ex-
pectlng momentarily to be either challenged
or fired upon by those above them. Divine
and his party looked down with mixed
emotions They found themselves truly be-
tween the devil and the deep sea.
Ward and his men were halfway UP the
clff, yet Divine had made no move to repel
them. He glanced timorousy toward the
dark forest behind from which he momen-
tarlly expected to see the savage snarling
faces of the head hunters appear.
Surrender. you swabs !" yelled Ward
from below, 'or we'll string the last moth.
ers' son of you to the yardarm !"
For reply Blanco hurled heavy frag-
ment of rock at the assaulters. 1t went
perilously close to Ward, against whom
Blanco cherised n keen hatred Instantly
Wards revolver barked, the bullet whistllng
close by Dvines head.
J.. Cortwritc Divine, cotillon leader
ducked behind Theriere's breastwork where
he lay sprawled upon his stomach trem-
bling in terror.
Bony Sawyer and Red Sanders followed
the example of their commander. Banco
and Wilson alone made any attempt to re-
pei the assault
The big negro ran to Divine's side and
g'ASS"Su eip revolver
from his belt then, turning, he fred at
Ward.
Tho bullet, missing its intended victim
pierced the heart of n sailor directly behind
him. and as the man crumpled to the
ground, rolling down the steep decivity.
his fellows halted their rush and sought
cover.
Wilson followed up the advantage with
. shower of we'll aimed missiles, and then
hostilitles ceased temporarily.
Have they gone?' querled Divine, with
trembling lips, noticing the quiet that fol-
lowed the shots
Gone nothn' yo' big cowahd." replied
Blanco. docs yo' suppose dat two men is
gwne TO stan off five? Eff yo' white
livered skuuks ud git up an fight we
might have chanct. Use got n good min
to cut out yo' cawahdly heart fer yo, das
wot has-a lyin' dere on you belly settln'
dat kin er example to yo' men,
Divlne's terror had placed him beyond
the reach of contumely or reproach.
whats the use Of fighting them?" he
whimpered. I'VE should never have left
them, It's all the fault of that fool Theri-
ere. What can we do against the savages
of this awful island II we divide our forces7