Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-07-16
CHAPTER XXI.
- $780,
I'll

In Full Possession.

A roar of delight went nm. know
sailors and felt they would welcome a
tight like this and their immediate
sympathy would be with me for start
ing 1t. 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 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 Iunged
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 shin Then he sprang straight
at me determined to smash me to the
deck by the very power of his on
slaught. But I 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.
evaded 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 1 knew flashing into my brain.
Breathlessly, my flesh scraped and
bruised, l wriggled partly free, and
trimmed him, his great body striking
The deck with thud. fell with him,
dragged down by his desperate grip,
but was first upon my feet, saluted by
roar of delight from the lips OF those
crowding about us. AS he staggered
mn also. I struck him again. blow
which would have ended the game,
had not my foot slipped on the reellng
dock AS it was it drove him to his
knees, groggy, and with one eye halr
closed. vet with strength enough left
TO regain his feet as soon as L. Inns
fine he charged me like wild bull,
froth whitening his lips, scarcely ap-
nearing human in the yellow light. In
mad rage he forgot all caution, MS
ono thought to reach me with MS
hands. and throttle me into llfeless
pulp. fought him back, driving Dio"
on blow through his guard, slde-step-
yiro his mad rushes, landing again
end again on his body. Twice L got
in over his heart, and at last, ROUND
tbe chance 1 sought, and sent right
,ob straight to the chin. All the force
of one hundred and eighty POUNDS was
hebind the clenched fist, and the negro
went down as though hoored py
noIeax Once weakly he endeavoreo
- rice but this time used my le1t,
and be never stirred again, lying
tboro with no sign of life except tne
oniyering of the huge body. Assured
tbat he was down and OUT l stoou
obove him. gazing into the ring Oh OK
cited faces. ia
.rrhat's one attended to-" l saio
,hortIv "Now is there any more Oh
20, Who would like to fight this out!
There was no answer although the
r;ng widened under the threat OF my
oyos and I met sullen faces mere anu
49, was in no mood TO take
chances. ,- al,
mon Pick out those you can
trust and have them stand over there
- +be right. Call them out py nan'e
be lively now" ou,r enough
They stepped forth eagerly enou tbe
,rod themselves before the
hunks bum the faces mostly those OF n n0t twe
o ou1 Europe, although a negro OF Two
ein among them. AS the Swede
was nsod calling, six or seven yet re-
ceaseu Mustered in front OF me,
ms ms mostly half-breeds. | gianeeu
er rom face 10 face inquirilsi'