St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1919-08-02

The Stricken Sailor Told the Whole
Story.
"Cut since the MURDER" I said, "and
by the same knife. What do you make
of it, Tom?"
swell, sir, the thing he'd most likely
try fer wud be ter release them lads
amidships. My idea is, sir, he thought
he'd have time ter git the bulkhead
door opens before anybody cum be-
low-he an the steward, who'd know
whar the tools wus. That wus the
scheme, only we busted in too quick.
That's whar they both are-skulkin'
back in them shadows"
He fitted the smoking lantern back
onto the shelf to have his hands free
for action, and drew a cutlass out of
the arm rack, running one leatherly
thumb along the blade to- test its
sharpness. His eyes sought mine ques-
tioningly.
Probably your guess is the right
one,'' I said soberly. "We'll give it a
trial."
Murder had been committed for a
purpose-it was the first step in an eff
fort to retake the ship. If we were
to retain our advantage there was no
time to be lost; we were pftted now
against Silva Sanchez, and he was a
leader not to be despised or temper
lied with no cowardly, b~rainless fool.
The passage leading forward was
wide enough to permit of our advanc-
ing together and for a few steps the
light dribbled in past US quite sufi-
Gent for guidance. I had been down
this tunnel once before, and knew the
bulkhead was not far away, but the
few steps necessary plunged us into
profound blackness, through which we
advanced cautiously with outstretched
hands. No slightest sound warned of
danger and / was already convinced in
my own mind that the refugees were
not hiding there, when 1t happened.
Within an instant we were fighting for
our lives, fronted not by two men, but
\ by q score, who flung themselves ours
Tag upon US. Their very numbers 2n0
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 Il antagonists,
although their fierce rush hurled us
backward. / 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
yet, even in that moment OF pande'
monium, / was quick to realize the Eel
lows were w~eaponless, seeking only. Il
reach and crush us with bare hands
The same discovery must have come
to the mind of the sailor, for he yelled
1t out deiantly, every stroke Of his
blade drawing blood. / Joined him.
striking with the butt of the pistol. We
killed and wounded. the curses of hate
changed into sharp cries Of agony, but
those behind pressed the advance for
ward, and we were inevitably swept
back into the light of the cabin Lamp
Then | saw faces, hideous il the
glare, qHmoniacal in their expression OF
hatred-a mass of them, unrecogniz-
able, largely of a wild, half-Indian
type, with here and there q bearded
white. Nor were they all bare-handed
in many q grip flashed q knife, and
directly fronting me, with a meat
cleaver uplifted TO strike, Sanchez
yelled his orders. Ignoring all others
/ leaped straight at him, crying to
Watkins as / sprang.
"Back lad; dash out that light ; Til
hold these devils here a minute !"
did-God knows how. It was like
no fighting ever ! had done before, a
mad, furious melee, amid which | lost
all consciousness of action, all guild
ance of thought, struggling as a wild
brute, with all the reckless strength OF
insanity. It is q dim, vague %rec0llec-
tion: I am sure / felled Sanchez with
one blow Of my pistol butt in some
way that deadly cleayer came into my
hands and / trod on his body, swing
ing the sharp blade with all my might
into those scoWling faces. They gave
sullenly backward; they had to, yelp-
ing and snarling like a pack of wolves,
hacking at me with their short knives.
/ was cut again and again. stood on
quivering flesh, crazed with blood, and
seeking only to kill. I saw faces
to play the game cut with me to TIA
end. Do you understand that?"
what you mean, senor-piay Il
out?"
go on with the rest of US; take
your chance with the men and do your
duty. I am captain here. The first
sign of treachery on your part will
send you below with those others. |
don't trust you, and all | want is an
excuse to put you out of the way-so
be careful what you do"
+proa1 and u,al-nd auov frouo hirn