American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-23

"Stop him, yer tarriersl Crack him
on her head"
| stumbled over the body on the
lower step, yet had reached the door
before the first man gripped my leg.
| broke loose from his fingers, yet the
instant Of delay blocked escape. They
were on me. their faces barely visible
in the dim light, and | fronted them,
fighting for life, striking tiercely with
the great sea boot, its iron-shod heel
a terrible weapon. Twice men fell, but
there were too many Of them, nor could
| protect my rear. They swarmed to
either side, and clambered up behind
me; the low beams Of the upper deck
permitting no swing to my arms; one
fellow gripped my feet, and another
leaped at my throat. l was tripped and
flung h%eadlong, the full weight of a
mans body crashing down on top of
me. Then came oblivion.
How long | remained unconscious l
never knew, but 1t must have been
some hours, for when l struggled back
to a vague sense OF life once more, /
was alone, lying on a mattress in a
bunk. My head thrObbed with pain,
and managed to lift one hand, assur-
ing myself hat my hair was matted
with blood. Where was 1? Had / met
with some accident? 1t was only grad
ually that the vision began to reflect
upon my mind-the attack on deck
the struggle in the f%orecastle and then
Vera Darlington. II was her face, her
memory which aroused life, and gave
me back the strength to struggle. The
fate of the ship was Of small impor-
lance to me, but the girl left alone
and helpless among these ruffians, was
Il thought SO filled with horror as to
draw me back from the very gates of
death.
] forced my eyes open, finding at
first the light binding, and for an in
slant stared up through a red mist.
Gradually normal sight came back, and
l realized that l rested In a bunk, gaz-
ing upward at the white-painted bot
tom Of another. There was a splash
OF sunshine on the side wall, and l
slowly turned my head toward the
open port through which ii streamed.
a = a hACN NhtAO 4 NuS AJli6-ln
the captains stateroom. Why had l
been brought there? What object could
those villains have for giving me these
quarters II they were really in control
of the ship? Perhaps they were not
perhaps LeayOrd and Olson had been
warned of danger In time TO overcome
them. and still retained command.
That would account for my presence
but, If this vas true, why was l left
alone, uncared for? Why had they
brought me here7 Gradually the con-
ception Of their purpose dawned-a
navigator; the need of q navigator.
Without me they were helpless; with
out my knowledge and skill not one
on board could tell where they were,
or nov to shape the course of the yes
sci. | was a necessity to them In a
way l held the villains still in my
power; they dare not let me die-not
yeti l cannot explain the new life
this thought brought to me. l seemed
to feel the strength of it injected into
my veins, and rose up on one elbow,
and then, encouraged by this effort,
swung my feet over the edge of the
bunk and rested them on the deck.
The hands of my watch told me II was
after eleven. | got TO my feet, cling
Ing TO the berth. and swaying weakly
mt first, but gaining strength with every
movement. The chart still lay on the
desk, Il course pricked on II up until
the day before, and the telltale com
pass told me the ships bow was still
pointed northward. | clawed my way
across TO the door, and tugged at the
latch. IL was locked.
This discovery vanished the least
doubt. The men had won. and were
In full possession. Fergus Mccain
was in control by virtue of his money,
aud his chosen lieutenants were Liver
pool Red and Jim White. What their
object might prove TO be remained to
be learned-but they must seek some
obscure port, or some safe spot for
shipwreck, sacrificing everything else
10 their safety-and. to accom-
plish this they must use me. Lord
l gripped that idea strongly enough,
my brain clearing as l realized the
important part I must still assume In
this odd sea tragedy. Perhaps l
could not ave the Indian Chief, but
there was hope yet that l might be
instrumental in preserving the lives
of those whom my carelessness had
imperiled.
There was water in the checks Of
Tho iron washstand, and l bathed my
face, scrubblng as best l could the
concealed blood from my hair. The
wound OF my head had bled freely, but
was not serious, and the application
Of cold water lessened the pain, and
helped 10 restore my faculties. A fine
breeze swept in through the open port.
and l sat down pm a stool TO gather
together in my mind every detail which
might prove of future value. l was
still sitting there. but by then alert
and ready. when a key turned In the