The Press., 1917-07-05

Gradually the pain left me, and with relief came drowsiness. l knew that to fall asleep might cost me my hle' but. not having slept at all the nlgnt before and soothed by absence or re- cent pain, was unable to resist.
 I should have suspected that the medicine I was taking to relieve pain contained an opiate or at least seda- tive. for pain alleviations almost all rely on deadening the sensiD1lltles. but did not think of this or would never have taken it, for 1t would have been much better to suffer temporarily than to go to sleep surrounded by those who were bent on murder.
 I had removed the tacks from the deck for, having unwittingly stepped on them, did not relish the situation and I did not suppose would nave any use for them during the day. Had I expected to sleep I would have cer- tainly left them on the deck. AS 1t was. with my rifles below and the tacks removed, was absolutely de- fenseless-no, not absolutely; there was A weapon at hand that required pres ence of mind and thought to use. But as lay there trying to fight or sum her was absolutely unconscious or It.
 The demon of the strait must have been in league with the savages, for | never had floated in calmer water. | A canoe is not fitted to breast waves, and I never feared the Fuegans m soually weather. It was when the strait was of smooth surface that they made their fOrays.
 How long I slept I don't know, nor can I account for being awakened be- fore a blow was aimed to end my life. I must have been conscious in my sleep of the approach of savages. Sud- denly I opened my eyes. l was lying on my back looking up at the blue sky over which light, heecy clouds were sailing leisurely. My head was h1gh' I had purposely used more than one pillow In order to be able to see about me, and, casting my eyes to the right I saw a canoe only hundred yards away.
 | rushed upon me in full force. There was no time to get my rife. Besides, if I stood up I might be picked of by an arrow. My medical cabinet was open, and in 1t espied syringe. The bottle from which 1 had poured the fiery draft stood beside 1t on the deck Seizing the two, put the point of tho I 4,,ka hn of hnffl0 Rnf sucked up charge of the medicine.
 was protected from the savages by the gunwale, and if they saw me i'll the syringe probably they did not con slider 1t a weapon. They came on noise lessly-the paddle gives no sound-ant through a narrow space between th' lids of my eyes I saw a head raised beyond the forecastle. The savag' made signs to those in the canoe tha was asleep. With his hand on tn, gunwale he-guided the canoe to pOin amidships where he was much nearer me. There he paused and, keeping hi eyes fixed on me, drew a knife iron his belt.
 My syringe was in my left han' ready for use. The savage raised hi
 knife. His body above the waist wa
 above the gunwale. He did not nee'
 to come on deck to reach me.
 Suddenly raised the syringe. Neve did I so concentrate my faculties ol
 an aim. Bringing the weapon to bea
 on his eyes, pushed the piston. Tn
 Fuegan fell back with a howl, hi | anofpSk biS
 In a twinkling I had recharged m
 gun and lay waiting for another al tack. None came. heard a hubbu in the canoe and, raising my head, say the savages padding away for dea life. Nor did they stop till they wer
 out of sight.
 That was the closest call I had whil
 trying to pass through the domain o the demon of the strait. Whether was the rub I had had or the med cine or the tonic of my fight for life,
 arose from my recumbent posture fee ing much better. I made myself
 cup of coffee, and while drinking 1t
 breeze sprang up. Raising the anchor hOisted sail and proceeded on m . voyage.
 There were other fights with win and savages before cleared the strai , and entered into the Pacific, but thi was the only one of my voyage 1 which l defended myself in so uniqu l manner have often since woI I dered what kind of gun that savag supposed had fired the burning liQui P into his eyes. The rife he knew, Il ? had seen pistols, but this stinging Ii : tie imp of a weapon was entirely ne ' to him.
 e Once in open waters I had no did l culty in sailing the Wasp and in dU D time delivered my cargo at Valparais $ 1 returned through the strait, but
 a large vessel with a competent crew