The state herald., 1919-11-07

come an easy prey. II they can only
slip on us unseen. How are you, bull
Hest Ready to battle your old matesr
Those were no mates O. ours, sir"
said Watkins Indignantly. "They are
half-breed mongrels, and no sailors;
Estevan is hen.hound. an SO far as
my voice goes. I'd rather die on this
deck than ever agin be bloody pirate.
1t that the right words. lads?"
The others grumblsd assent. but
their muttered words had In them q
ring of sincerity. and their faces ex-
hiblted no cowardice. One only asked
a question.
'Tm fer fghtin', sir." he said grim
ly. ''but what'll we usel Them lads
amt comm aboard bare-handed. but
damn If I've seed q weapon ON this
hooker"
"Dar's three knives, an q meat
cleaver in der galley. sah," chimed in
Sam.
"We'll do well enough; some Of you
have your sheath knives yet. and the
rest can use Delaying pins and capstan
bars. The point IL to not let them get
aboard. and. II there is only one boat,
we will be pretty even.handed. Pick
up what you can. and man this rail-
quietly now. hearties. and keep your
eyes Open"
1t proved q longer walt than I ex-
pected. Unable to Withstand the In.
action any longer turned and took .
few steps aft. thinking to gauge our
progress by the wake astern. ! was
abaft the cabin on the port side when
Dorothy called my name-a sudden &C
cent Of terror In her voice.
The alarm was sounded none too
soon. Either fortune. or skill. had
served those demons well. They had
succeeded In circling the stern Of the
Santa Marie, unseen and unheard by
anyone aboard. Even as she shrieked
the alarm. hand was at her throat,
and she was struggling desperately in
the merciless grip "a half-naked In
dian.
Yet at that they were too late, the
advantage Of surprise had failed them.
A half dozen had reached the deck.
leaping from the rail. the others below
clambering after their leaders, when
with q rush we met them. 1t was a
fierce. mad fight. fist and club pitted
against knife and cutlass. but the de-
tenders struck like demons incarnnte.
doubt II the struggle lasted two min
ties. I heard the blows. the oaths, the
cries Of pain. the dull thud Of wood
against bone. the sharp clang of steel
In contact. the shufiiing Of feet on the
deck. the splash OF bodies hurled over
board. Each man fought for himself.
In his own way. thought only OF her,
and leaped straight for her assailnnt
with bare hands. smashing recklessly
through the hasty guard Of his cutlass
and gripped the copper devil by hair
and throat. ! knew she fell to the
deck beneath our feet. but I had my
work cut out for me. lie was hell
hound. slippery as an eel in his half
nakedness, strong us an OK. and fight
ing like fiend. Yet had him foul,
my grip unbreakable. MS l forced his
neck back against the rail. until II
cracked. the swarthy body sliding inert
to the deck. whirling to assist the
others found no need. Except for
bodice here and there the deck was
clear: men were struggling In the
chains; two below In the boat were
endeavoring to cast on. and Schmitt.
with Estevnn helpless In his arms.
staggered to the side and flung the
shrieking Spanish cur overheard out
Into dark water. heard the splash as
he fell. the single cry his lips give. but
he never ngnIn appeared above the sur.
face. Above the bedlam Watkins
ronred out Hn order.
That's Il. bullIesi thnt's ~ Now
let her dropl Wen send them TO hell
where they belong. Good shot: she
landed T.
II was the hank Of 4 spare anchor.
balanced for nm Instant on the rnil.
then sent crashing down through the
frail bottom OF the boat beneath. The
wreck drifted away into the fog. the
two miserable occupants ciinging dcs-
pcrntely TO the gunwnles. lifted
Dorothy TO her feet. and she clung to
me unsteadiiy. her fnce yet white.
watkins. have you figured up rr-
sultsr
Two Of our men are cut rather
badly. and one hasn't come to yet from
u smart rap on the hend."
None got nway"
mot less they swum. ,hnr's sII dcad
ones aboard. Four took ter the water.
mostly because they he'd to. The only
Twin one o. the bunch IA thct Niger
1ongsidc the wheel, an nuthln' but n
thick skull saved him."
"Tbcn there were eleven In the
party. whni do you suppose Inns be.
come of the others aboard the Nn'
murf"
n dunno, sir they might be n wnitin'
out there In fog. Perhaps tho Niger
cud tell you"
a A.. sl... F.ll.