Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-02-25
CHAPTER VIII.


Watch out for squalls. is all can say
to you," was Louis warning, given dur
ing a spare half-hour on deck while
Larsen was engaged in Strengthening
out a row among the hunters.
was not altogether surprised when
the squall foretold by Louis smote
me. We had been having a heated
discussion-upon life, of course-and
grown overbold. I was passing stiff
structures upon Wolf Larsen and the
life of Wolf Larsen. The dark sun
bronze of his face went black with
wrath. his eyes were ablaze. He sprang
for me with half roar, gripping my
arm. wilted and shrieked aloud. My
biceps were being crushed to pulp.
He seemed to recover himself. for a
lucid CLEAN came into his eyes, and he
relaxed his hold with short laugh
that was mere like a growl. l fell to
the floor, feeling very faint, while he
sat down, lighted cigar, and watched
me as a cat watches a mouse. AS |
writhed about | could see in his eyes
that curiosity I had so often noted,
that wonder and perp.exity, that ques-
tioning. that everlasting query OF his
as to what it was all about.
finally crawled to my feet and
assembled the companion stairs. Fair
weather was over, and there was moth
ing left but to return to the galley
| NJ 1ofx r.
alyzed, and days passed before could
use it, while weeks went by before
the last stiffness and pain went out
of 1t. And he had done nothing but
put his hand upon my arm and
squeeze. What he might have done
did not fully realize till next day
when he put his head into the galley
and, as a sign of renewed friendliness
asked me how my arm was getting on
1T might have been worse" he
smiled.
l was peeling potatoes. He picked
one up from the pan. 1t was fair sized
| firm and unpeeled. He closed his
hand upon it, squeezed, and the potato
squirted out between his fingers In
mushy streams. The pulpy remnant
he dropped back into the pan and
turned away, and had sharp vision
of how it might have Jared with me
had the monster put his real strength
upon me.
But the three days rest brought the
trouble / had foreseen. 1t was plainly
Thomas Mugridge's intention to make
me pay for those three days. He
treated me vilely, cursed me continu
ally, and heaped his own work upor
me. He even ventured to raise his
fist to me, but I was becoming animal
like myself, and l snarled in his face
so terribly that it must have fright
ened him back.
A pair of beasts is what we were
penned together and showing oul
teeth. He was a coward. afraid t.
strike me because | had not Quaile(
sufficiently in advance; so he chose
new way to intimidate me. Their,
was only one galley knife that. as ;
knife, amounted to anything. He whet
ted it up and down all day long. Ev
cry odd moment he could find he hat
the knife and stone out and was whet
ting away till l could have laughed
aloud. it was so very ludicrous.
1t was also serious, for | learned
that he was capable Of using it, tina
under all his cowardice there was
courage of cowardice, like mine, tina
would impel him to do the very thin,
his whole nature protested against dc
ing and was afraid of doing. "Cooky'
sharpening his knife for Hump" wa
being whispered about among the sal
ors, and some of them twitted hin
about it. This he took in good part
and was really pleased, nodding hi
head with direful foreknowledge an
mystery, until George Leach, tn
erstwhile cabin-boy, ventured som
rough pleasantly on the subject
Now it happened that Leach wa
one Of the sailors told off to dous
Mugridge after his game of cards wit
the captain. Leach had evidently don
his task with thoroughness that Mus
ridge had not forgiven, for words TO
lowed and evil names involvin
smirched ancestries. Mugridge mer
: aced with the knife he was sharpenin
for me. Leach laughed and hurle
more of his Telegraph hill billing,
, gate, and before either he or l knee
what had happened. his right arm ha
been ripped open from elbow to wris
: by a quick slash of the knife. Tn
: cook backed away, a fiendish expires
, sion on his face, the knife heS, befor
him in a position Of defense. BIZ
Leach took it quite calmly, thong
, blood was spouting upon the deck a
generously as water from a fountain
J I'm goin' to get you, Cooky."
, said, "and I'll get you hard. And
won't be in no hurry about it. You
J be without that knife when l com
, for you"
: So saying. he turned and wake
! quietly forward. Mugridge's face wa
: livid with fear at what he had don