The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-11-20
WOLVES OF THE SEA
BY RANDALL PARRISH


until my hand WINS on the companion
door ready to slide It open.
"lll not be long below" I said sober.
~. Better go forward and see that
your lookout men are awake. and then
come back here"
viously entered because Of n locked
door. ! determined on breaking In
here. There was no key In the lock.
and the stout door resisted by efforts.
Placing the lantern on the deck | sue
ceeded finally In inserting the blade
OF a Ratchet so as to gain a purchase
sufficient to release the latch. As the
door yielded u sharp cry nssailcd me
from within. II came forth so sud
denly and with so wild m accent I
stepped blindly backward In fright. my
foot ovcrturning the lantern, which.
with u single flicker of the candle, went
out. In that last CLEAN ] saw a dim,
grOtesque outline fronting me. Then.
in the darkness, cleaned " green,
menacing eyes, growing steadily larger,
nearer, n | stared ut them In horror.
Was II man or beast? Devil from hell.
or soine crazcd human against whom
must battle Tor life? The green eyes
! glared into my face. | lifted my hand
toward him. and touChcd-hairl My
antagonist was Il giant African ape.
Even rs the big apes grip caught
me, ripping through jacket sleeve to
the flesh, i realized my great peril. but
| was no longer parulyzcd with
fear. helpless before the unknown. I
drove my Ratchet straight between
those two cleaning eyes. The brute
staggered back, dragging me with him.
His humanlike cry of pain ended In a
snarl, but, brief as the respite proved.
1t gave me grip on his under Jaw and
an opportunity to drive my weapon
twice more against the halry face. The
pain served only to madden the beast,
and before I could wrench free he had
me clutched In IN iron grip. my jacket
torn into shreds. His jaws snapped ut
my face, but l had such purchase rs
to prevent their touching me. and
mindless Of the claws tearing ut my
flesh l forced the animals head back
until the neck cracked and the lips
gave vent to n wild scream OF agony.
l dared not let go dared not relax for
m instant the exercise Of every ounce
Of strength. felt as though the life
was being squeezed out Of me by the
grasp Of those hairy arms; yet the
very wise In which I was held yielded
me leverage. The Ratchet dr. pped to
the deck and both my hands found
Judgment under the jaw. the muscles
OF my arms strained to the utmost. as
I forced back that horrid head. Little
by little 1t gave wny, The suffering
brute whining In agony, until. the pain
becoming uncomfortable, the clingins
arms suddenly released thelr hold let.
ting me drop heavily to the deck.
by some good fortune | fell upon
the discarded Ratchet. and stumbled
to my feet one more. gripping the
weapon again In my fingers. / sprang
straight toward him, sending the sharp
blade Of the Ratchet crushing against
the skull. The. aim was good, the
stroke a death blow. yet the monster
got me with n paw. and we fell to
the deck together, he sayagely claw
ing me in HIS death agony. Then the
hairy figure qulvered and lay motion.
less. released the stiffcning grip.
rising to my knees, only to immediate
ly pitch forward unconscious.
When I came back once NOR. to lie
| was upon the schooner's deck breuth-
ing the fresh night mir, Dorothy and
Watkins bending over Inc.