The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-03-11


with the main sheet.
You will please stay on deck. MISS
Brewster" Wolf Larsen said, as ne
started forward to meet his guest
And you, too Mr.. Van Weyden.
The boat had lowered its sail anu
run alongside. The hunter. golden
bearded like soaking, came over the
rail and dropped on deck. lie glahceu
from Wolf Larsen TO me, noted tha'
there was only the pair of us. ana theh
glanced over his own two men VINO
had Joined him. Surely he had lltlle
reason to be afraid. He lowered ike
a Goliath above Wolf Larsen. AT tho
ton of the Companionway he reassureh
himself with a glance down at his most
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 a
great. choking below, followed by all
the sounds of furious struggle. IL
was the leopard and the lion, and the
lion made all the noise. Wolf Larsen
was the leopard.
you see the sacredness or our nos
pitality," | said bitterly. to Maud
Brewster.
She nodded her head that she heard.
and noted in her face the signs Oh
the SAME sickness at sight or sound OF
violent struggle from which mad SUI
fered so severely during my hrst
weeks on the Ghost.
The sounds from below soon dled
away. Then Wolf Larsen came alone
on deck. There was a slight hush un-
der his bronze. but otherwise he pore
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, and we might as well 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 jibs. 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 a.
the instant horror that leapt into hel
eyes.
You'll find nothing gruesome dowr
there" he said. only an unhurt mar
securely made fast to the ring-bolts
Bullets are liable to come aboard, anC
| don't want you killed. you know"
Even as he spoke. bullet was de
fected by a brass-capped spoke of thu
wheel between his hands anC
screeched off through the air to wind
ward.
You see," he said to her; and thel
to me, Mr.. Van Weyden, will yol
take the wheel?"
Maud Brewster had stepped inside
the companionway so that only he
head was exposed. Wolf Larsen hat
procured a rifle and was throwing ;
, cartridge into the barrel. | begge'
, her with my eyes to go below, but sh
smiled and said:
I'VE may be feeble land-creature
: without legs, but we can show Captain
: Larsen that we are at least as brav
| as he."
l He gave her a quick look of ad
; miration.
81 like you hundred per cent bette
? for that" he said. Books, and brains
r and bravery. You are well-rounded.
blue-stocking fit to be the wife Of
pirate chief Ahem. well discuss tina
later" he smiled. as a bullet struc
: soiidly into the cabin wall.
D | saw his eyes fash golden as h
3 spoke, and saw the terror mount Il
her own