The daily Alaskan., 1919-05-29

Ss--. 'iE7s'sf::sSssSsss SGllS py a score, wno nuhg themselves curs- ing upon us. Their very numbers and the narrowness of the passage was our only salvation. At first our resist ance was blind enough, guided only by the senses of touch and sound. We could see nothing of our antagonists, although their fierce rush hurled us backward. I fired into the mass, as Watkins slashed madly with his cut lass, both managing In some way to keep our feet. Hands gripped for us' a bedlam of oaths splitting the air; vet, even in that moment of pande- monium, was quick to realize the Tel lows were weaponless, seeking only 10 reach and crush us with bare hands. The same discovery must have come to the mind of the sailor, for he yelled it out deflantly, every stroke of his blade drawing blood. l joined him, striking with the butt of the pistol. We killed and wounded, the curses of hate changed into sharp cries of agony, Out those behind pressed the advance for ward, and We were inevitably swept back into the light of the cabin lamp.
 Then I saw faces, hideous in the glare, demoniacal in their expression or hatred-a mass of them, unrecogniz- able, largely of a wild, half-lndian type, with here and there a bearded white. Nor were they all bare-handed in many a grip flashed a knife, and directly fronting me, with a meat cleaver uplifted to strike, Sanchez yelled his orders. Ignoring all others I leaped straight at him, crying to Watkins as l sprang.
 Back lad; dash out that light; I'll hold these devils here minute"
 I did-God knows howl IL was like no fighting ever I had done before, a mad, furious melee, amid which l lost all consciousness of action, all guild ance of thought, struggling as wild brute, with all the reckless strength of insanity. It is a dim, vague recOllec- tion: am sure 1 felled Sanchez with one blow of my pistol butt; in some way that deadly Cleaver came into my hands and I trod on his body, swing ing the sharp blade with all my might iuto those scOwling faces. They gave sullenly backward; they had to, yelp- ing and snarling like pack of wolves hacking at me with their short knives I was cut again and again. ! stood on Quiverlng flesh, craZed with blood, and seeking only to kill. saw faces crushed in, arms severed, Jhe sudden squirting of blood from ghastly wounds. OGths mingled with cries of agony and shouts of hate. Then in an instant the light was dashed out and all was dark ness.
 It was as though my brain snapped back into aSCendency. l was no long CT a raging fury, mad with the desire to kill, but coOl-headed, planning eS- cape. Before a hand could reach me in restraint. l Sprang backward and ran. l stumbled up the stairs leading to the companion. The vague glnumer of daylight showing through the glass, revealed the presence of Watkins. heard him dash the door wide open, call to those on deck, and then saw him wheel about to again confront the devils plunging blindly forward toward us through the dark cabin. We could hold them for q time at least, yet l had the sense to know that this check would prove only temporary. They out-numbered Us ten to one, and would arm themselves from the rack. Yet the greater danger lay ln the possible dislOyalty of my own men. A dozen or us might hold these stairs against as- sault, but treachery would leave us helpless. If one among them should steal below forward, and force Opeh the door from the forecastle, we would be crushed between two waves of men, and left utterly helpless. l SAW the whole situation wildly, and as quickly chose the one hope remaining.
 "Watkins," I called sharply back over my shoulder. "Get the boats ready and be lively about 1t. We'll hold these fellows until you report. The two quarterboats will hold us all. Knock out the plugs in the others. See that Miss Fairfax is placed safely in the afterbOat, and then stand by. Send me word the moment all is ready"
 I had glimpse of the thick fog with out as he pushed through the door, and of scarcely distinguishable group of men on the deck. Those about me could only be located by their restless movements. l stepped down one stair conscious of increasing movement be- low, the meat cleaver still gripped in my hands,
 Any of you armed with cutlasses%
 "Oui, m'sieur, Ravel DeLasSer."
 Stand here, to right of ne, now an- other at my left. Who are yOu?"
 Jim Carter, sir"
 Good; now strike hard, lads, and you others be ready. The cabin is full of 'em, and it is your life and mine in the balance. If we can get away in this fog they'll never find us, but we've