The Mena weekly star., 1919-08-14
THuIIl.IIlIlIiIIIIIIlIlIIIIIIIIIliIIIlIIlliIi
Oopyright BIZ A. O. McClurg q 90.
Continued From Previous Issue.)

Murder had been committed for q
purpose-it was the first step in an eff
fort to retake the ship. If we were
to retain our advantage there was no
time to be lost; we were pitted now
against Silva So7chez. and he was a
leader not to be despised or temper
lied with; no cowardly, brainless fool.
The passage leading forward was
wide enough to permit of our advanc-
ing together and for few steps the
light dribbled in past us quite sufii.
cient for guidance. / had been down
this tunnel once before, and knew the
bulkhead was not far away, but the
few steps necessary plunged us into
profound blacl1ness, through which we
advanced cautiously with outstretched
hands. No slightest sound warned of
danger and was already convinced in
my own mind that the refugees were
not hiding there, when it happened.
Within an instant we were fighting for
our lives, fronted not by two men, but
by score, who flung themselves ours
ing upon us. Their very numbers and
the narrowness Of the passage was
our only salvation. At first our resist
ance was blind enough, guided only by
the senses of touch and sound. We
could see nothing of our antagonists,
although their fierce rush hurled us
backward. / fired into the mass, as
Watkins sIashed madly with his cut
lass, both managing in some way 10
Hondc Urfnnnh for rTC
bedlam of oaths splitting the air !;
vet, even in that moment of pande-
monium, / was quick to realize the fell
lows were weaponless, seeking only to
reach and crush us with bare hands.
The same discovery must have come
to the mind of the sailor, for he yelled
1t out def1antly. every stroke of his
blade drawing blood. | Joined him,
striking with the butt of the pistol. We
killed and wounded, the curses of hate
changed into sharp cries of agony, but
those behind pressed the advance for
ward, and we were inevitably swept
back into the light of the cabin lamp
Then | saw faces, hideous In the
glare, demoniacal in their expression of
hatred-a mass of them. unrecogniz
able, largely OF wild, half-Indian
type, with here and there a bearded
white Nor were they all bare-handed !;
in many grip flashed a knife, and
directly fronting me- with a meat
cleaver uplifted 10 strike, Sanchez
yelled his orders. Ignoring all others
/ leaped straight at him, crying TO
Watkins as ! sprang.
"Back lad dash out that light; I'll
hold these devils here minute!"
did--God knows howl 1t was like
no fighting ever | had done before, a
mad, furious melee, amid which | lost
all consciousness of action. all guild
ance of thought. struggling as wild
brute, with all the reckless strength of
insanity 1t is a dim, vague recollee-
ton; am sure | felled Sanchez with
one blow of my pistol butt; in some
way that deadly cleaver came into my
hands and | trod on his body, swing
ing the sharp blade with ali my might
into those scowling faces. They gave
sullenly backward; they had to, yelp-
ing and snarling like pack of wolves,
hacking at me with their short knives
was cut again and again. ] stood on
quivering flesh, crazed with blood, and
seeking only to kill. / saw faces
crushed in, arms severed, the sudden
squirting of blood from CHASTITY wounds.
Oaths mingled with cries of agony and
ElnnfG nj an In, ft,tr4 I,x
light was dashed out and all was dark
ness
1t was as though my brain snapped
BACK into ascendency. l was no long
er raging fury, mad with the desire
TO Kill, but cool-headed, planning es-
cape. Before hand could reach me
IN restraint. sprang backward and
ran. l stumbled up the stairs leading
to the companion. The vague glimmer
Oh daylight showing through the glass,
revealed the presence of Watkins. 1
heard him dash the door wide open,
call to those on deck, and then saw
MN wheel about to again confront the
devils plunging blindly forward toward
US through the dark cabin. We could
mold them for time at least, yet [
had the sense to know that this check
would prove only temporary. They
out-numbered us ten to one, and would
arm themselves from the rack. Yet
the greater danger lay in the possible
disloyalty of my own men. A dozen OF
US might hold these stairs against as
sault, but treachery would leave us
helpless. If one among them should
steal below forward, and force open
the door from the forecastle, we would
De crushed between two waves of men,
ana left utterly helpless. / saw the
whole situation wildly, and as quickly
chose the one hope remaining.
Watkins" l called sharply back
over my shoulder. sect the boats
ready and be lively about it. Wen
mold these fellows until you report.
Inc two quarterboats win hold us all.
Knock out the plugs in the others. See
mat Miss Fairfax is placed safely In
tne afterboat, and then stand by. Send
me word the moment all is ready"
l mad glimpse of the thick fog with
OUT as ne pushed through the door.
anu OF a scarcely distinguishable group
Vi men on the deck. Those about me
could only be located by their restless
movements. l stepped down one stair
CONSCIOUS of increasing movement be-
low, the meat clpaver still grinnad in