The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-08-21
tSentinued From Previous Issue.)
TEIIIIIIlIIIIIIiiiIiIiliIllfiiiIllIIIllI
Oppyrisht By A. Q. AcCluFs D %.


angry voices, but no movement of as
sault What they would do next was
answered by blaze of light, revealing
the silhouette of man, engaged In
touching flame to torch of hemp. It
flung forth dull yellow flare, and re-
vealed a scene OF horror. Our assall-
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. II
was Manuels hand which had kindled
the light, and the first croak of his
voice told his purpose.
Now you skulking cowards,' he
yelled pointing forward, do you see
what you are fighting? There ure only
five men between you aid the deck.
To he'll with 'emi Come on I'll show
you the wayi"
He leaped forward; but II was his
last step. ! sent the cleaver hurting
through the air. | know not how ii
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 Dutch oath, and
his gun, sent whirling above me,
crashed into the uplifted torch Aga..:z.
il was black night, through which tire
eye could perceive nothing. Even the
noise ceased. but hand gripped my
shoulder
"Who are your"
Watkins. The boats are ready. The
one forward has pushed off loaded.
The afterboat is alongside. There is
such 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"
Newer mind MIN the fellow can do
no harm now. Move back slowly lads
Schmitt and / will be the last ones
out"
We closed the companion door as
silently as possible and for the mo-
ment there was no sound from within
TO show that our cautious withdrawal
had been observed. / stared about, but
was able to perceive little beyond the
small group awaiting my orders. The
fog chung thick and heavy on all sides,
and 1t was impossible for the eye to
penetrate to either rail. Fortunately
there was no weight of sea running.
There is nothing more to keep us
aboard lads Stow yourselves away
and hang on: I'll wait here until you
are all over"
They faded away into the mist, dim
spectral figures, and l remained alone,
listening anxiously for some hostile
sound from below. Satisfied that the
lads were safely over the rail and the
decks clear, turned toward the ships
side. AS did so yell reached my
ears from the blackness below--the
hounds had found voice.
| ran through the fog in the direc-
ton the others had disappeared, and
had taken scarcely three steps when
| collided against the form of a man,
whose presence was not even noticed
until we came together. Yet he must
have been there expectant and ready,
for a quick knife thrust slashcd the
front Of my jacket, bringing a squirt OF
blood as the blade was jerked back
Even as my fingers gripped the uplift-
ed wrist, ere he could strike the sec
ond time, l knew my antagonist.
knew also this was fight to the death,
70 be terminated before that unguard-
ed crew below could attain the deck.
II was LeVere's life or mine, and in
the balance the fate of those others In
the waiting boat alongside. The knowl-
edge gave me the strength and the
ferocity of tiger. / ripped the knife
from his fingers, and we closed with
bare hands, his voice uttering one
croaking cry for help as bore in on
MS windpipe. He was a snake, q cat,
slipping out of my grasp as by some
magic. At last had him against the
rail, the weight of us both so hard
upon 1t that the stout wood broke,
AID we both went over, graphing I'M
al we splashed into the water below
Inc shock loosened my hold: as
Fought way back to the surface l,
was alone. My strength began to fail,
nope left me as | sank deeper and deep
er into the remorseless grip of the
ocean, l was not afraid; my lips ut
tered no cry. no prayer--I drifted out
INTO total Inconsistencies and went
down.