The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-26
CHAPTER XXI.
Tn Full Possession.

A roar of delight went up. I knew sailors and felt they would welcome a fight like this and their immediate sympathy would be with me for start ing it. 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 l mingled hate, and a delight in h downfall.
 In that instant, although I cannot recall removing watchfuI eyes from the negro's face, l received an impress sion of my surroundings never to be erased from memory-the gloomy in- terior, the deck, foul, filtered 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 a 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 q dozen tongues, their eyes gleam- ing with savagery. r
 I know not whether Cochose lunged 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 ship. 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.
 I evaded his clutch by leaplng aside, but the space was far too small to per init 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 wrestlers trick I knew flashing into my brain. Breathlessly, my flesh scraped and bruised, I wriggled partly free, and tripped him, his great body striking the deck with a thud. I fell with hiIa. dragged down by his desperate grip but was first upon my feet, saluted by Q roar of delight from the lips of those Crowding about us. AS he staggered up also, I struck him again, blow which would have ended the game, had not my foot slipped on the reeling deck. As it was it drove him to his knees, groggy, and with one eye half closed, yet with strength enough left to regain his feet as soon as I. This time he charged me like a wild bull, froth whitening his lips, scarcely ap- bearing human in the yellow light. In mad rage he forgot all caution, his one thought to reach me with his hands, and throttle me into lifeless pulp. I fought him back, driving blow on blow through his guard, side-step ping his mad rusheS, landing again and again on his body. Twice l got in over his heart, and at last, found the chance I sought, and sent right jab straight to the chin. All the force Of one hundred and eighty pounds was behind the clenched fist, and the negro went down as though foored by poleax. Once weakly he endeavored to rise, but this time I used my left, and he never stirred again, lying there with no sign of life except the quivering of the huge body. Assured that he was down and out, I stood above him, gazing into the ring of ex- cited faces.
 (Continued Tomorrow.)