The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1919-07-04

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! yells. strange faces appearing and dis
appearing. as men leaped desperately
ri MS up the steps, and we beat them
remOrselessly back. l saw nothing
more Of Manuel III the fray, but his
shrill voice urged on his fellows. 1t
was strike II parry, .cui n thrust.
Twice | Kicked my legs free from
hands that gripped me and DeEas-
ser fell, a pike thrust through hin.
Who tool his place / never knew, but
a stout fighter ,he lad was, welding
his cutlaSS viciOusly, so that we held
them, with dead men Iittering every
step to the cabin deck.
But they were of a breed trained TO
such fighting, and the lash of Manuels
tongue drove them into mad reckless
ness. And there seemed no end Of
them, sweeping. up o III of those black
shadows, with bearded or lean BROW
savage faces. charging Over the dead
bodies, hacking and gOuging in vain
| effort to break through. struck until
|, my arms ached, until my head reeled,
scarcely conscious of physical action,
| vet aware of Manuel'S shouts.
Now you hell-hOunds-nOw once
| more, and you have them. Santa Ma
ria you've got to go through, DULLES
there is no other way TO the deck.
| Rush 'em! That's the way! Here
you-gO in outside the rail! Broth Of
hell! Now you have him, Pedro"
For an instant ] believed it true; 1
saw jim Carter seized and hurled side
| ways, his cutlass ciashipg as it fell,
while u dozen hands dragged him
| headlong into the rUck beneath. But
f; it was only IN instant. Before the
: charging devils could pass Inc. q huge
figure filed the vacant space. and the
butt of IL gun crashed into the mass.
il was the Dutchman, Schmitt, fight
ing ike a demon, his strength that CT
in on. They gave way IN terror be
fore him and we went doivn battering
our way. until the stairs We're clear 10
the deck. except for the dead under
foot. When We stopped, not q, hight
Ing man was left within the sweep sef
our arms. rhpy Scurried back into the
DARKNESS like so many rats, and we
could only stare about blindly, cursinG
Them, as we cndeayored 10 recover
breath. Schinitt rOared like a wild
bull, and would have rushed on. u
for my grip ON his shirt.
"Get back, men, / ordered sharply.
"There may he 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, a babel OF
angry voices. but no movement of as
sault. What they would do next was
answered by a blaze of light, revealing
the silhouette Of a man, engaged In
touching flame to 3: torch OF hemp. 1t
flung forth 81 dull yellow fare, and re-
vealed a scene OF horror. Our aSsail.
ents were massed halfway back. Be-
tween us, ever ten feet from the
stairs, the deck was Uttered with
bodies. CHASTITY faces staring up, with
black stains Of blood everywhere. 1t
was Manuels hand which had kindled
the light, and the first croak of his
voice told his purpose.
Now you sklking 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 On! I'll show
you the way
He leaped forward; but it was his
last step. ] sent the cleaver hurting
through the air. / knew not how it
struck him, but he went down. his
last word "a Shrek, his arms flung out
in ain 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 niglit. through which the
eye could perceive nothing. Even the
noise ceased, hut z hand grippad my
shoulder.
"Nho arc yoUT"
watkins. The boats are ready. The
me forward has push q off lOaled.
The aftcYboai is alongside. There is
such = cog. sir. yer can't see two
fathoms iroin the ship. The girl is in
the beat, but LcVere ANT. The mate
Slipped oft @ sight in the fog. Hes
somewhere aboard"
Never min0 him; the fellow can &c
no harm now. Move back slowly lads
Schmitt and J. will be the last ones
out"
We closed the companion door as
silently is possible and for the mo
ment there was no sound from within
to show that our cautious withdrawal
had been observed. l stared about, blu,
, was able to perceive little beyond the
small group awaiting my orders. Ths
fog chung thick and heavy OF all sides
and it was impossible for the y tt
penetrate to either rail. Fortunately
there was no weight Of sea running.
. nThere is nothing more to keep u
aboard lads. Stow yourselves away
and hang on; I'll wait here until YOU
are III owe.