Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1919-06-19

they faced, but counting on force Of
numbers to crush our defense. Man
uel led them yelling encOura cement,
and sweeping his cutlass, gripped with
both hands, in desperate effort to
break through. DeLasser caught it's
point with his blade while my cleaver
missing aim with its sharp edge, new
ertheless dealt the fellow u blow which
hurled him back into the arms Of the
man behind. saw nothing else in de-
tail, the faint light barely revealing in
! distinct figures and CLEAN of steel. 1t
was pandemonium of blows and
yells, strange faces appearing and dis
appearing, as men leaped desperately
at us up the steps, and we beat them
' remorselessly back. / saw nothing
, more of Manuel in the fray, but his
shrill voice urged on his fellows. l.
was strike and parry, cut and thrust.
Twice I kicked my legs free from
hands that gripped me and DeLas-
ser fell, a pike thrust through him.
Who took his place I never knew, but
a stout fighter the lad was, welding
his cutlass viciously, so that we held
them, with dead men littering every
step to the cabin deck.
+ But they were of a breed trained to
such fighting, and the lash of Manuel's
tongue drove them into mad reckless
ness. And there seemed no end of
them, sweeping up out of those black
shadows, with bearded or lean brown
GOV no oiya h.
bodies, hacking and gouging in vain
effort to break through. / struck until
my arms ached, until my head reeled,
scarcely conscious Of physical action,
yet aware Of ManueIs shouts.
"Now you hell-hounds-now! once
more, and you have them. Santa Ma
ria you've got to go through, DULLES
Rush 'em! That's the wayl Here
you-go in outside the rail! Broth of
! hell! Now you have him, Pedro !"
For an instant I believed it true; I
saw Jim Carter seized and hurled side
ways, his cutlass clashing as it fell,
while dozen hands dragged him
headlong into the ruck beneath. But
~ w OL1y oClOlC LlC
charging devils could pass me, huge
figure filed the vacant space, and the
butt of gun crashed into the mass.
1t was the Dutchman, Schmitt, fight
ing like demon, his strength that of
an OK. They gave way in terror be-
! fore him, and we went down battering
our way, until the stairs were clear to
fhn fay hn
foot. When we stopped, not fight
ing man was left within the sweep Of
our arms. They scurried back into the
| darkness like so many rats, and we
could only stare about blindly, cursing
them, as we endeavored to recover
breath. Schmitt roared like wild
bull, and would have rushed on, but
! for my grip on his shirt.
| sect back, men ~ ordered sharply.
'There may be fifty of them yonder.
| Our only chance is the stairs"
We flung the bodies on one side, and
| formed again from rail to rail. Below
us there was noise enough, babel of
angry voices, but no movement of as
sault. What they would do next was
answered by blaze of light, revealing
the silhouette of a man, engaged in
touching flame to torch of hemp. 1t
| flung forth dull yellow flare, and re-
vealed a scene of horror. Our assail-
ants were massed halfway back. Be-
tween US, even ten feet from the
stairs, the deck was Uttered with
bodies, CHASTITY faces staring up, with
black stains Of blood everywhere. 1t
was Manuel's hand which had kindled
the light, and the first croak Of his
voice told his purpose.
snow you skulkiIg towards" he
yelled pointing forward, 'do you see
what you are fighting? There are only
five men between you and the deck.
To hell with 'em Come onl I'll show
you the way"
| He leaped forward; but it was his
last step. l sent the cleaver hurtling
through the air. know not how it
struck him, but he went down, his
| last word a shrek, his arms flung out
in vain effort to ward off the blow.
Schmitt roared out a Dutch oath, and
his gun, sent whirling above me,
crashed into the uplifted torch. Again
it was black night, through which the
eye could perceive nothing. Even the
noise ceased, but hand gripped my
shoulder. -|I
,"Who are your" 1E.s>-
watkins. The boats are ready. The
one forward has pushed off loaded.
| The afterboat is alongside. There Is
such a fog, sir, yer can't see two
fathoms from the ship. The girl is In
the boat, but LeVere amt, The mate
slipped out O. Sight in the fog. He's
somewhere aboard" q
Never mind him; the fellow can do
| no harm now. Move back slowly lads.
schmitt and Twill be the last ones
| out - ~