The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-29
(Continued)


 Tnen saw faces, nIdeous In the glare, demoniacal in their expression of hatred--a mass of them, unrec0gni7- able, largely of a wild, haf-Lndlan type with here and there a bearded white. Nor were they all bare handed; in many a grip flashed a knife, and directly fronting me, with a meat clsaver UpIifted to strike, Sanchez yelled his orders. Ignoring all others | leaped straight at him, crying to Watkins as Bprang.
 ''BHek ladl dash out that lights I'll hold these devils here a minute l'
 I dif--God knows howl IL was like no fighting ever had done before, a mad, Curious melee, amid which lost all consciousness of action, all guid- ,snce of thought, struggling as a wild brute, with nn the reckless strength of insanity, It Is a dim, vague recollec- ,tionS am sure felled Sanchez with jane blow Of my pistol butt; in some way that deadly Cleaver came into my hands and trod on hls body, swing 54ng the sharp blade with all my might iintn those scowling faces. They gnve gaIlenly backward; they had to, yelp- 'Sllg and snarling like a pack of wolves, hacking at me with their short knives. Twes cut again and again. I stood on 'QuiVertng flesh, crazed with blood, ana seeking only to kill. saw faces crushed fn, arms severed, the sudder squirting of blood from ghastIy wounds. Oatns mingled with cries of agony and shouts of hate Then in an iDstRnt the light was dashed out RnG all was dark ness. .. It was as though my. brain snapped hack into ascendency. was no long aH 6 raging fury, mad with the desire to XII, but cooI-headed, planning es- CaRe. Before Q hand could reach me in restraint, I sprang backward and ran, stumbled up the stairs leading to the companion The vague RlImmer of daylight showing through the glass, revealed the presence of Watkins. l heard him dash thR door wide open, call to those on deck, and then saw him wheel about to again confront the devils pIunging blindly forward toward us through the dark cabin. We could hold them for a time at least, yet ] had the sense to know that this check would prove only temporary, They out-nunabered us ten to one, and would arm themselves from the rack. Yet the greater danger lay in the possible dislcyalty Of my own IEeD. A dozen ot us might hold these stnirs against as sau1t, but reachery would leave us helpless. If one among them should steal below forward, and force opeI the door from the 3orecastle, we would be crushed between two waves of men and left utterly helpless saw the whole situation wildly, and as quickly chose the one hope remaining.
 "Watkins," I called sharply bach over my shoulder. ''Get the boat, ready and be lively about 1t. Wei hold these fellows uutl you report The two Quarterboats will hold us all Knock out fine plugs in the others. Set that Miss Fnirfax IS placed safely 1T the afterboat, and t1en stand by. SenC me word the moment all is ready"
 I had glimpse of the thick fog with out as he pushed. through the door and of a scarcely ydistinguishable groul of nen on the deck Those about mt could only be located by their restless movements. stepped down one stai, conscious of increasing movement be low, the meat cleaTer stfu gripped Il my hands.
 ''Any of you armed with cutIassesT ?
 ''Oui, m m'sieur, Ravel DeBasser."
 Stand here, to right of me, now an other at my left Who are your
 "Jim Carter, sir.''
 Good; now strike hard, lads, ant you others be ready. The cabin is ful of 'ern, and 1t is your life and mine il the balance. If we can get away il this fog they'll never find us, but We'v got to hold them here until the boat are ready. I killed their captain Sanchez. That is where we've stil got them. without a leader"
 "But they've got armsP
 "Only hand weapons" broke in Gar ter. "There's ball in the bandoliers but 10 powder. I wus goin' ter breal open a cask, but Estada put me a another job"
 '%phen that leaves us on even foot ing, lads, we ought to be equal to then with the cold steel"