The Clio messenger., 1919-08-14
CHAPTER XXI.
In Full Possession.

In Full Possession.
A roar of delight went up. / knew
sailors and felt they would welcome
fight like this and their immediate
sympathy would be with me for start
ing it. More than that, this black
bully, ruling over them by brute force,
could be no favorite. They might fear
him, but with that fear would be
mingled hate, and a delight in his
downfall.
In that instant, although I cannot
recall removing watchful eyes from
the negro's face, received an impress
sion of my surroundings never to be
erased from memory-the gloomy in
terror, the deck, foul, Uttered with sea
boots, and discarded clothing, and the
great beams overhead blackened by
smoke. The rays of the swinging
slush lantern barely illuminated the
central space, the rows of hunks be-
yond remaining mere shadows, yet this
dim, yellowish light, fell full upon the
excited half circle of men who were
roaring about the negro. They were
rough, wild lot, ranging in color
from the intense black Of Central
Africa to the blond of Scandinavia,
half naked some. their voices mingling
in dozen tongues, their eyes gleam-
ing with savagery.
/ know not whether Cochose lunged
forward of his own vOlition, or was
pressed on from behind, yet suddenly
he was within reach Of me, and the
battle was on, his object evidently be-
ing to crush me in his giant grip,
mine to oppose science to strength,
and avoid his bear-hug. We swayed
back and forth to the sharp pitching
of the ship. Then he sprang straight
at me determined to smash me to the
deck by the very power of his on
slaught. But l side-stepped him, get
ting in two swift blows, which rocked
his head, and tore open one cheek,
from which blood trickled. Yet he
kept his feet, blindly gripping for me.
I Ievaded his clutch by leaping aside,
but the space was far too small to per-
NIT these tactics to carry long, and
finally he had me. Yet, even as he
seemingly crushed the very breath out
of me, his giant strength met with a
resistance which increased his fury.
Already the fellow had lost his head,
but l fought coolly, putting my skill
against brute force. every wrestler's
trick I knew flashing into my brain.
Breathlessly, my flesh scraped and
bruised. l wriggled partly free, and
tripped him, his great body striking
the deck with thud. fell with him,
dragged down by his desperate grip,
but was first upon my feet, sa,ated by
a roar of delight from the lips of those
crowding about US. AS he staggered
up also, / struck him again, blow
which would have ended the game,
had not my foot slipped on the reeling
deck. As 1t was 1t drove him to his
knees, groggy, and with one eye half
closed, yet with strength enough left
to regain his feet as soon as /. This
time he charged me like wild bull,
froth whitening his lips, scarcely ap-
pearing human in the yellow light. In
mad rage he forgot all caution, his
one thought to reach me with his
hands, and throttle me into lifeless
pulp. fought him back, driving blow
on blow through his guard, side-step-
ping his mad rushes, landing again
and again on his body. Twice / got
In over his heart, and at last, found
the chance sought, and sent right
jab straight to the chin. All the force
Of one hundred and eighty pounds was
behind the clenched fist, and the negro
went down as though fioored by
poleax. Once weakly he endeavored
to rise, but this time / used my left,
and he never stirred again, lying
there with no sign Of life except the
quivering of the huge body. Assured
that he was down and out, stood
above him, gazing into the ring Of ex-
cited faces.
"That's one attended to-" ! said
shortly. snow is there any more Of
you who would like to fight this Out2"
There was no answer although the
ring widened under the threat Of my
eyes, and i met Suilen races mere anu
there. I was In no mood to take
chances.
Carlson" I said, "you know all
these men. Pick out those you can
trust, and have them stand over there
to the right. Call them out by name;
be lively now"
They stepped forth eagerly enough,
and ranged themselves before the
hunks, the faces mostly those of north
ern Europe, although negro or two
was among them. As the Swede
ceased calling, six or seven yet re-
mained clustered in front of me, a
motley lot, one of them an Indian. the
others mostly half-breeds. 1 glanced
from face to face inquiringly.